Customer Reviews

Nerds Like It Hot

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

 

 

Gillian McCormick is generally a shy, retiring Hollywood makeup artist but when she witnesses a murder committed by the stepson of a Mafia boss, she knows it is time to go into hiding. Her elderly-only-in-age friend, Cora, convinces her the best disguise is to mimic the flamboyant Marilyn Monroe while escaping on a cruise designated for nerds. Cora enlists the help of private investigators, Lex Manchester and Dante Fiorello, as bodyguards who must pose as nerds. Meanwhile, the murderer, Neil Rucker, has a disguise of his own- his secret lifestyle has everyone convinced he is the sinfully sexy Nancy Roth. What will happen when this bizarre cast of characters sets sail on the nerd cruise?

NERDS LIKE IT HOT has some moments of sheer ingenuity. The scenes involving the cross-dressing Neil Rucker/Nancy Roth were entertaining for the most part. Nancy's character, while bizarre to the extreme, was perhaps the strongest and best developed of all of the characters. Neil Rucker simply paled in comparison. However, one scene in particular between Nancy and Jared Stevenson, the organizer of the cruise, was a bit over-the-top and seemed unnecessary. The concept of a female impersonator as the stepson of a top Mafia boss was hilarious overall, though, and had this reviewer laughing through several incidents.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book isn't as funny and seemed almost like a farce. Gillian's metamorphosis into Marilyn Monroe wasn't believable nor was Lex's regression into nerdiness. While the physical chemistry between the two characters is evident, the story drags and this reviewer had difficulty caring about their romance as their personalities seemed to be more of a gag than showing real depth.

NERDS LIKE IT HOT displays some flashes of the comical lightheartedness for which Vicki Lewis Thompson is well known. The premise of the book had promise, but unfortunately the story seemed too long. Perhaps a shorter format would have made NERDS LIKE IT HOT more enjoyable.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

I've read all the books in the Nerd series, and this is definitely the worst. I struggled to even finish the book. The characters weren't believable at all. The plot was shaky, at best. This book was very disappointing.

On one level, I really did enjoy the book, but on another, it was just average.

The first VLT book I read was her third Nerd book, Nerd Gone Wild, which I absolutely adored. It was just such a new, unique concept. Most romance books tend to have perfect hero and heroines, but in the Nerd books, VLT gives you some nerdy traits. They're not hardcore nerds, the guys still have some alpha-male traits, and the females are still sexy and pretty. They're just geeky. It's still a great concept. I also enjoy VLT's writing. She writes some great sex scenes, and her language is very readable and fitting modern young adults. The characters think and talk like your average young person. It's nice to read. Plus, she's got a great sense of humor.

So I loved Nerd Gone Wild and went and got her two previous Nerd books, and since then have bought her next ones as soon as they came out. And while I enjoyed all of them, for the most part, the uniqueness wears off, and the whole idea gets a little old. Even so, Nerds Like It Hot was still pretty fun to read. This book, and the Nerd series as a whole, are just fun, light-hearted reads.

Character and romance wise on this one, I don't really have any complaints. I liked all the characters, and the romance - while not particularly cute or sappy - was nice. I believed the chemistry between them. The plot made sense and worked. I loved the whole Nerd-themed cruise idea and how she worked it into the book. That was fantastic. I wouldn't have minded more of that part of the story. And all the supporting characters were great. I loved Cora.

I had perhaps two complaints overall with the book. The first being the lack of any sort of guessing as to who was after Gillian. You know right off the bat who the bad guy is, and you know exactly how he plans to go after her. VLT even does POV scenes with the bad guy that let you know before hand exactly how he plans to attack her. It took any suspense out of the book. I think it would have worked better if she'd been more vague in that area so that the readers had more to ponder and guess about. And I could have done without all those in-depth scenes about the antagonist's activities

My second complaint is just a preference for me. I would have liked to see more down-time scenes between Gillian and Lex. Most of their time together was very specific and generally plot or sex oriented. They didn't have any sort of casual scenes where they just talked to each other or got to know each other. I think if they'd done that, it would have made the possibility of a lasting relationship between Gillian and Lex make just a bit more sense because really, a lot of their relationship was based on some heavy-duty sexual chemistry. If they'd known each other more thoroughly, I would have minded the ending quite so much, or thought it was just a little too abrupt.

Basically, and enjoyable, fun read. Probably what someone would call a "beach read". It's not meant to be serious or plot-y. It's hot and funny with a smidge of suspense. If you've read any of her other Nerd books, you'll like this one.

When Hollywood make-up artist Gillian McCormick witnesses a murder, she turns to her old friend and former film star, Cora Bledsoe, for help. With Cora's help, Gillian is transformed from plain Jane to bombshell gorgeous. Cora also enlists the help of two dashing P.I.'s, Lex Manchester and Dante Fiorello.

With Lex and Dante also transformed, the four flee Hollywood aboard a cruise full of nerds looking for love. But, the cruise ship has more on board than just hordes of romancing nerds. It seems that trouble has followed the foursome and Lex is determined to keep Gillian safe, even if he has to go nerdy to do it!

Vicki Lewis Thompson books make me laugh. I just love her wit! While the plot of Nerds Like It Hot is outrageous, it adds to the overall charm of the book. I loved the characters and loved the boatload of nerds! Fast paced and laugh out loud funny, Nerds Like It Hot is a great escape!


Annmarie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I was a little skeptical on purchasing a book about nerds but gave it the benefit of the doubt and actually enjoyed reading it. It was comical, light and airy. Gillian McCormick is a make-up artist in L.A. on her way to meet with a client. Upon her arrival, she overhears an argument which leads to the murder of that same client. She also knows who did it. And that the mob is now most likely to be after her. She comes to the conclusion that her safest alternative to surviving is to change her looks and get out of the country. How fortunate that her dear old friend Cora has been trying to talk her into a cruise that will do just that. How unfortunate for her that the cruise just so happens to be exclusively for nerds! Cora is worried about her friend so hires a couple of P.I.'s she knows to protect her while aboard ship until they get her safely out of harm's way. Dante Fiorello knows his partner is a nerd but never thought he himself would actually fall for one. And Lex Manchester swears he isn't one but all the signs seem to be there. Gillian could imagine herself on a cruise but a nerd cruise? Upon boarding however, she is instantly drawn to one. She knows the passion is there but could they share more than just great sex? Could he fulfill her with the romance she is seeking? What Gillian doesn't know is that the killer is aboard the same ship and may or may not be the mobster Lex and Dante suspect. As things heat up, personal conflictions leave room for error. When she is almost killed people realize that someone aboard means serious business. When the ship finally docks she is the first one to get off, not realizing that she has been followed. Will the nerd who has stolen her heart be able to save her before the mobster gets to her? And will the other geeks manage to find their special someone? Happy reading!

I started reading this author with Talk Nerdy to Me and My Nerdy Valentine. This book is not nearly as funny as the earlier two, but if you loved Some Like It Hot, with Marylin Monroe and Tony Curtis - or if you liked the musical Some Like it Hot, you'll be amused by this book and its tributes to that great film. As with her other stories, there are some very funny secondary characters. In this story, it is a cross-dressing mobster. In her previous stories, the heroes have been stockbroker, and an engineer. In this one, it is a fledgling Private Investigator. The herione is a make-up artist, who is a Marylin Monroe look-alike once you get her to do something with her hair and take her glasses off!

I liked this book and love the series but this book just isn't as good as the others. I'm not going to write a plot summary because so many others have already wrote it. However, I will say that the characters didn't really connect. I didn't feel like that were that well developed. I felt that the plot just wasn't that good and there was no mystery about anything. I didn't like how it just wrapped up in a nice little package in about 20 pages. I do still like the concept and will read her next book about Valentine's Day but if this continues maybe the series has just ran its course. I would recommend the other books in this series.

I've been a huge fan of VLT for as long as I can remember and I particularly love the Nerd series. This book was hot and funny with classic VLT humor. Great characters, engaging plot. Loved it, loved it, loved it!

Hollywood makeup artist Gillian McCormick is working on preparing actor Theo Patterson for his role as musician Joe/Josephine, the Tony Curtis role in a remake of Some Like It Hot. She detests the abusive Theo who is nasty to everyone. He treats people as if they belong in the ooze below the food chain. So she is not shocked to hear shouting as she approaches his room between the obnoxious actor and Neil Rucker, stepson of shadowy Phil Adamo. Neil leaves with a huff; Gillian enters only to see the star dead killed by the medal heel of a Jimmy Choo shoe and that Neil, allegedly in the Barbados murdered him.

Gillian turns to her best friend Cora, who previously suggested going on a Geek cruise. Cora remakes Gillian into the Marilyn Monroe Sugar Kane Kowalczyk look and persuades another friend private investigator Lex Manchester to keep her safe on the cruise from the mob. However, no one informed Lex how to keep Gillian safe from the man who guards and wants her while willing to die to protect his beloved from a gangster on the cruise seeking to eliminate the witness.

The fifth "Nerd" romance is a wonderful suspense thriller staring two individuals who find their normal existence blown away by the scenario. Gillian has turned from working class stiff into a bombshell and the once sophisticated Lex has become a classic drooling nerd whenever he sees her. Though readers will wonder why not the police, fans of the series and the classic movie that this novel pays loving homage to will appreciate this fine Nerdy entry cactus and all.

Harriet Klausner

I have read several of the other "Nerd" books, and they are cute and somewhat entertaining. In this book however the story is extremely unbelievable, there is no character development, and very little worthwhile interchange between the characters. In short, the book was a real struggle to finish, and was not cute, sexy or romantic at all.