Customer Reviews

Gone With the Nerd

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In this installment of Vicky Lewis Thompson's "Nerd" series, a movie star-Zoe Tarleton-is paired up with token nerd, Flynn Granger, a Hollywood contract attorney.

Zoe spirits Flynn to a small town to give her nerd lessons for a role she hopes to land. When they arrive in a Bigfoot-crazed area, strange things happen. Is a blueberry cobbler supposed to foam up in the garbage disposal? And what about killer bees and crashing trees? This story promises hot romance with a thrilling hint of danger.

Promises and hints only take a reader so far. "Gone with the Nerd" gets high marks for premise, but low marks for believability. The two main characters in this book are fraught with contradictions. Zoe acts the selfish diva one minute, and is suffused with morals the next. Even in a fast-paced romance, it's hard for me to believe she falls hard for her attorney after mere hours, despite knowing him five years; and vice-versa with Flynn.

Flynn, the nerd, isn't as nerdy as one might expect. Wearing glasses does not a nerd make. As a woman married to a true nerd, I can attest that Flynn barely qualifies, especially after the book concludes. Flynn's motivations for being with Zoe are understandable for any hot-blooded male, but a nerd wouldn't handle it nearly so well. My husband agrees that Flynn would not be accepted into Club Nerd.

A reader may also be put off by how Zoe and Flynn deal with their morals considering his impending engagement to his girlfriend. Romance readers like their heroes and heroines to be heroic, but these two come up short, even if these issues are "resolved" at the end (which a romance reader expects). And if they are not behaving as they normally would outside of this weekend adventure, how can they really expect to be ready to get married after two days?

In the end, if you enjoy steamy romps that end happy, it's a decent read. However, if you are distracted by double standards and inconsistent behavior, there are many other reading choices available. C.W.

In Hollywood, glamorous actress Zoe Tarleton asks her lawyer Flynn Granger to allow her to study him so that she can learn how a nerd thinks as she hopes to land the non sexpot role of Vera Parsons, a research chemist in the film the Billion Dollar Pill. Flynn tells her he is going to marry Harvard professor Kristen Keebler, but he agrees to meet her in Long Shaft, California so that he can teach her to behave like a nerd, but also will tell his fiancée the truth. Zoe wonders how it would feel to have someone protect her like he does Kristen.

In Long Shaft, Zoe meets her high school friend Margo Taggart, who has arranged everything. Flynn arrives and one look at Zoe tells him she over killed the nerd bit. He also enjoys the Bigfoot paraphernalia in the area as he appreciates cryptozoology. As Zoe observes Flynn and rehearses her role with him, they begin to fall in love, but questionable accidents and strange sightings seem to interfere with their kisses.

The strong lead couple carries this nerdy but fun tale that will send the audience seeking previous nerd novels (see NERD IN SHINING ARMOR, THE NERD WHO LOVED ME, and NERD GONE WILD). The story line is amusing with a touch of suspense caused by the incidents that seem to happen a lot to Zoe. The Sasquatch locale and the two youngsters the lead couple meets add humor. Although the intrigue subplot involving the accidents seems an unnecessary stretch, readers will enjoy the romance between the accounting nerd and the sexpot actress.

Harriet Klausner

I've been following this series and I've pretty much loved every one of the books, "Nerd in Shining Armor" and "The Nerd Who Loved Me" are both firmly tied for first place. I just don't think "Gone with the Nerd" really measures up to the rest. What really killed this book for me was Flynn. He's just not nerd enough for me. That and, I'm sorry, the fact that he's on the verge of proposing to his girlfriend yet can't hardly keep it in his pants after a scant few hours alone in a cabin with Zoe, just irks me. It's a major flaw in his character that pretty well puts me off. I don't find myself rooting for this relationship to work out because, despite the fact that he realizes he's not really in love with his girlfriend, he's basically become a cheating jerk in my eyes.

I gave it 3 stars because the writing was still there, the ending was sweet, and I kind of enjoyed the Bigfoot thing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for "Nerds like It Hot".

I liked the entire nerd series by Vicki Lewis Thompson. I liked Gone With the Nerd but not as much as the other titles in the series. It took a long time for the characters to hook up in this one, much longer than the rest of the series. All in all it was a good read though. I would recommend it for fans of the Nerd series.

I adored this book. Nerds can be sexy and I glad someone is finally tapping into the idea that a man with a brain can be hot. In reply to the reveiwer who left the nasty reveiw about who wants to read a romance novel about a nerd ...since NERD was in the title it should have tipped you off that the story was about one. That sadly explains a lot about you!

I absolutely adore Vicki Lewis Thompson's NERD Series. As a woman married to a man who would, in all likelihood, be described as a nerd, I know first-hand how hot these guys can be! Ms. Thompson has served up another steamy slice of nerdiness in GONE WITH THE NERD.

Zoe Tarleton is a movie star known far and wide for one thing-- playing the bombshell. With her beauty and first-class body, she's made plenty of films--but she's tired of being known as nothing more than a pretty face. Then the chance of a lifetime falls into her lap--the chance to audition for the role of Vera in an action-adventure movie, a part that could, if played right, earn her a Golden Globe. The only problem is that Vera, a chemist working on a miracle drug, is a flat-chested, bland, nerdy woman. To turn her bombshell into a dud, Zoe needs to learn how to be a nerd, and she knows the perfect person to help guide her--entertainment attorney Flynn Granger. She's spent plenty of time with Flynn over the past few years, working out contracts, and she knows he's just the man for the job.

Flynn has always been attracted to Zoe in an off-hand, it-could-never-happen sort of way. After all, she's Zoe Tarleton and he's, well, a nerdy accountant with glasses, a monochrome wardrobe, and a Honda Civic. So when Zoe suggests spending the weekend in Long Shaft, California, home of the Sasquatch, for him to advise her in nerdiness, Flynn agrees, on the condition that he can tell his almost-fiancee, Kristen, what they're up to. The only problem is, even before they reach Long Shaft, Flynn's realizing that being in close proximity with Zoe--dowdy or not--is a real danger to his libido.

GONE WITH THE NERD is an absolute riot, and Zoe and Flynn are adorable characters. The steam these two generate is enough to erupt a volcano, and the suspense and paranormal aspects thrown into the story add an exciting mix. I love how Zoe realizes that there's more to life than fame and fortune, and how Flynn comes to understand that blending into the background of life isn't necessarily the best way to go.

You won't go wrong with this nerdy tale, and I for one am eagerly anticipating the next one, Talk Nerdy to Me (The Nerd Series), coming out in February 2006.

This was the first one in this series I read. And I now have a new favorite author.

'Nuff said!

I would say that I very much enjoyed this love story, Gone with the Nerd. Although this book is not short it is a nice light read. The care-free and comical topic of a movie star and class-A nerd caught up in a romance keeps this book funny and interesting. The author does a good job of making the characters seem real. Her in depth description and individual personality for each character makes them very relatable. I felt as though they were now a part of my circle of friends. Although this is not the typical romance novel it still has the appeal of one with sexy dialogue and heartwarming story line. You will find yourself laughing out loud and wanting to catch a glimpse of Flynn Granger in action, and that sparkling smile of Zoey Tarleton. Along with her blue eyes that always seem to keep Flynn guessing.

Even though I liked this book a lot there were some slight flaws. While reading, it seemed as though the beginning of the book kind of dragged on, and the ending came with some abruptness. Having said this, the main portion of the story I found very hard to put down. It has the feeling of a sexy new drama you would see on day-time T.V.
This is a great book to pick up and read in the hot days of summer with its fun and frisky tale of discovery between two people.

I love this author and her books. Gone with the Nerd is the story of a sexy big-screen star who wants to "learn to be a nerd" to land a movie role. To accomplish this she enlists the only nerd she knows, her lawyer, to play the role of reverse Henry Higgins. Believing she needs to leave Hollywood so she can learn in anonymity, they travel to a small town in northern California that is reputed to be the Bigfoot capital of the world and the hijinks and lust commences. As with all of Thompson's books the scenes and dialog are pure farce and a little cringe worthy, but that is all part of the fun of reading these books.

I found this Thompson book to be a pain. It is too long. She tries too hard to make the plot exciting and in the process can easily turn a reader off as they try to figure who's on first. There are too many
characters and contrived events that seem often disjointed. While sex holds the couple together, in their first "encounter" somehow I knew how Farley was dressed as he enters her room. But somehow I didn't pick up on the garb that Zoe was wearing until deep into the interaction. He seems
clumsy at times and she pushes too hard to stay up with him, even though her heart won't admit there is at least sexual love. Even the end seems a bit contrived, when one finally reaches it. I like Nerd stories. Yet even a prime steak can be presented "overdone." This book is more Gone than nerdy!