Nerds Like It Hot

Nerd #6

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

* Note: This book was previously published in print format in 2006.

Nerds ahoy!
A cruise for single geeks isn’t makeup artist Gillian McCormick’s idea of a great time, but as the sole witness to a murder, she needs to disappear before the killer comes looking for her. With P.I. Lex Manchester along to guard her and a Marilyn Monroe disguise replacing her usual plain-Jane persona, what could go wrong?

Everything, when the passenger list includes a hit man, a cross-dressing sociopath, and a boatload of lusty nerds. Lex has his hands full keeping Gillian safe, especially when he longs to have his hands full of Gillian, who turns out to be a very convincing Marilyn look-alike!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Fiction, Humor, Nerd

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompson believes love makes the world go around and laughter makes the trip worth taking. The recipient of RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award and the author of more than ninety books, Vicki pioneered a new kind of romance hero with Nerd in Shining Armor. Following the success of her nerd stories, Vicki launched a boisterous paranormal series featuring a matchmaking witch and wizard, an ADD dragon named George, and a black cat inspired by her own precocious feline, Eve.

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Kinda Nerd Stars



This one was okay. Both the h&h were kinda nerds but not really. It wasn't bad but it didn't really stand out. Easy entertaining read. It was borderline cheesy and borderline boring at times. Whatevs.......

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the worst book of the series, by far and I really enjoyed the others. How sad to end the series on such a downer. A cross-dressing murderer, a dash from the Mafia and a makeup artist who is channeling her inner Marilyn Monroe. Should have been a decent book especially when the getaway vehicle is a 4-day cruise for Nerds. Just didn't quite come off as funny as it should have. 2 1/2-Stars

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a word: Wow.

This was my first Romance Novel that I've ever read. I'm not used to such camp!

The thing that really made me spend the $2.48 on this book was not the random price, but the fact that I couldn't – and still can't – read the back cover without laughing out loud! I mean, the romantic interest for the main character is LEX MANCHESTER. I mean, c'mon!

I have to say, I now think of porn as Romance Novels for the illiterate. This stuff has just the same kind of sillyness and unrealistic portrayals of sex as a lot of porn. You have to suspend belief for a little bit in exactly the same sort of way. Let me give you a couple examples of what I mean.

This is from the middle of the book:

"I'm not a virgin." Her smile turned into a sexy little chuckle. "But I've never been with a man who had such an embarrassment of riches. You're very well hung, Lex."

And five pages later:

Leaning down, he kissed her as he shoved his penis deep into the warmest, slickest vagina he's ever had the pleasure to enter. Her muffled groan melded with his as he pumped once, twice. On the third stroke they both came in indescribably splendor.

Maybe it says more about me, but I've never known a gal to have such a hair trigger. In fact, every time he climaxes it's along with her.

Speaking of which, I didn't know what to expect as far as my feminist sensibilities were concerned. It's modern and sex-positive. There are some realistic dynamics as far as a "typical male character" and his attempts to understand the motivations of the "typical female character" and vice versa. But I think the author is self-aware, so is ambitious while still understanding that, c'mon, it's a Marilyn Monroe look-alike running from the mob on a singles cruise for self-described nerds.

So while there's plenty of sex, there's just enough intellectual stimulation in between. I'd suggest this as a book to read during a commute to and from work, but maybe Stephen King would be a more appropriate choice in public.

[The Tick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another odd one. I was really unhappy with the way that the main characters reacted when they found out Nancy's secret. It's probably too much to expect a romance novel to really be a beacon of forward thinking, but, seriously, crossdressing and being gay aren't the same thing.

The characters also seemed incredibly...unintelligent. They didn't really seem to think about anything they did, and, honestly, I was kinda rooting for one of Neil/Nancy's plots to kill Gillian to succeed. I also just find it completely bizarre (and unromantic) that Gillian would want to spend the rest of her life with someone who continually disregards her non-sexual desires and "persuades" her to do what he wants by having sex with her.

It wasn't totally unenjoyable, though--I did like BJ. Kept picturing her as Fred from Angel.

[Jo Reads Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likeable if far-fetched romance
3 stars

This is another of Vicki Lewis Thompson's Nerd Series although each book stands entirely alone. Having said that, despite this being billed as one of the series and set on a Nerd cruise - neither the hero or heroine were actual nerds or even particularly geeky which made it different from the other books.

This book was entertaining and if you can put aside the sheer implausibility of the plot then it's an enjoyable read. However, I didn't think that any of the characters acted the way they should have if they had really been in the situations they found themselves in and the unlikeliness of this started to grate on me after a while.

Both Gillian and Lex were enjoyable characters but there wasn't really any romance between the pair. I believed in their relationship well enough but didn't really feel the passion or love that they supposedly had for each other. There was a large cast of supporting characters and while I liked them too, some of them were really only fillers and had little point to the actual storyline.

All in all, this was an fantastical and amusing read but not one of the better Nerd books. 3 stars but still worth a read if it's sitting on your book shelf.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book with lots of spicy scenes, this novel tells the story of Gillian McCormick, who witnesses a murder. In order to escape the mob who will be after her, she is persuaded by her good friend to hide undercover on a cruise ship that will eventually take her to Mexico, where she can disappear. Of course, there are some hunky bodyguards her friend hired, who are posing as nerds for the "Nerd Cruise", and who are on the spot when things start to go horribly wrong. This book is funny, hot, and a quick summer read.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fun, as I've found the Nerd series from Thompson. For anyone looking for a contemporary read that liked the movie "Some Like It Hot," you won't be disappointed. There are a couple scenes that go a bit off the rails, but skimmed through those parts and carried on with the main narrative.

[Robin Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I've now come to expect with this series, the characters and the situations they find themselves in are a little campy, a little over the top. Well, actually, not the characters this time around as much as the situations.

Gillian does makeup in the cutthroat world of Hollywood. Leaving the studio late one night, she overhears a ruckus coming from one of the star's dressing rooms, and just like that she's a witness to a murder with mob connections. Her elderly friend Cora, a former star who was friends with Marilyn Monroe back in the day, is headed out on a singles cruise for nerds the next day, and Cora convinces Gillian to go along as a way of getting out of the country. And she convinces Gillian to dye her hair and put on a sexy dress and bam, Gillian is a Marilyn Monroe lookalike. Because rather than blend in with the crowds of ill dressed and badly coiffed nerds and be inconspicuous, Cora says that she needs to stand out and participate in as many cruise activities as she can, so nobody would ever mistake “Norma Jean”, her fake cruise name, for Gillian.

Lex and Dante are childhood friends who have a fledgling private investigations business. They grew up in Cora's neighborhood and she considers them the grandsons she never had. So Cora hires them to come along on the cruise as bodyguards for Gillian. Cora happens to know the owners of the cruise line, so has no problem making last minute arrangements. Unfortunately, trouble follows Gillian as it soon becomes apparent that someone else managed to get on the cruise as well, and that someone wants Gillian dead.

A few scenes left me shaking my head with disbelief – Gillian verbally admiring how well endowed Lex is; a cross-dresser using fruit in a way nature never intended – but overall it was a fun and quick paced screwball romp with plenty of the author's signature humor and heart.


Review first posted on my blog.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is kind of steamy..but funny! Im planning on reading more of this series!
If you like cute, romantic stories about being on a cruise, with a little mystery thrown in, you should try this book!

[Jennifer Farr · Rating 2 out of 5]

My eyes are burning. There are some images I will NEVER get out of my head again, and I'm for sure never looking at banana's the same way again.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5* This was amusing and for the most part I really liked it. I liked Gillian, her spunk and conviction to do the right thing, even if it did come a little late. Lex was very stoic and while it was an advantage in his line of work, it makes a relationship hard and I understood Gillian's hesitation about him. Dante and Cora were hilarious and I needed more of them. I also needed more of the Dante-BJ relationship and would love to see them in another book. Cora's attitude toward Little Ben was a breath of fresh air, normally a drastic height difference in favor of the woman is a deal breaker and I liked that it didn't bother either of them. Hector not being there for Gillian was so obvious and I'm surprised that Lex and Dante didn't figure it out. Him being mafia they got right away, but that he was only trying to ensure her safety was not something they could consider. Neil/Nancy was interesting. This was the first time I can recall encountering a Drag Queen in a romance novel, especially one that played such an important roll! I had two issues with this book, the first being that Nancy was not upfront with Jared about who she (and he) really was. That could have, and should have, been handled much differently. My second issue was with Hector being fine with leaving Dorothy. I would love for them to get another chance in another book. Aside from those things, this was an enjoyable book.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

This book has it all. Nerds, mafia thugs and a crossdressing murderer. Oh and it all happens in a cruise ship.

This took me a while to read because I really wanted to savor this book. I've been collecting the books for over six or seven years now by scouring all the thrift bookstores. These are just one of those books that you keep.

The comedy aspect is a bit old school since this was written years ago and there were parts that leaned on homophobic but Ms. Thompson was able to steer it away from that.

I sorta felt that the ending was rushed. In the other books you get an epilogue but not this one. And while I know the main focus of the book was the two main characters, I had hoped that the future of the other characters were settled in a happier setting.

[Susi Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book!

I loved the book. Gillian was a make up artist who was in the wrong place at the wrong and witnessed a killing. Lex was a PI who was hired by a friend to watch over Gillan. It is a funny book that brings Lex and Gillian together.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start, but a satisfying read.

[Sandy Lipinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gillian saw something she shouldn't have. A make up artist in California, how is she going to run from the Mafia? Luckily she has friends to help.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid story. Great buildup. Nice and steamy. =)

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute-fun characters, not a difficult plot.

[JoAnn M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just so ridiculously silly. I did enjoy Cora, who encouraged her young friends to pursue each of their own happiness.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5+ stars

[Nibrock · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. A very silly plot. Fun characters though.

[Mia Ivanova · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book...A cross dressing bad guy, a Marlyn Monroe look alike, a wise golden girl and romance cruise, what more can you want?

[Anne Moorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A guilty pleasure read

[jenjn79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mobsters, cross dressers, and nerds! Oh my! This is the last of the Nerds books that I've gotten my hands on, and I'm sad the series is over. This is another fun, majorly over-the-top, addition to the series. Much like in Nerds #3, Lex is actually a PI undercover as a nerd, but he does have some nerd tendencies left over from high school. He's accompanying Gillian on a nerd themed cruise as she hides out from the Mafia after witnessing a murder. I was a bit skeptical about the cruise, but it sounds like so much fun! I seriously would love to go on one!

If the plot sounds cheesy, that's because it is. I'm a sucker for cheese though, and this book does not disappoint. There's a hilarious cast of characters who I couldn't help but love. The side-plot with Gillian's pursuer was great and completely unexpected! The story is light, fun, exciting, and sometimes sexy. It also doesn't take itself too seriously, just like the rest of the series. I do have a couple of complaints though. The first being how Lex used sex to get his way, and that Gillian fell for it every time! The other is that Dante made a few rude comments about cross dressers. I know things like that get said in the real world, but that doesn't make it okay. Other than that, if you're looking for a quirky, easy read with a little bit of steam, you should check this one out.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Christie P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do a Hollywood make-up artist, a cross dresser, a private investigator, and the mob have in common? They are all on a cruise that could end in more than one murder.

Gillian works as a make-up artist to the stars and it pretty bored with life, that is until she sees one of the leading men with mob connections murder someone with a stiletto!

She runs to her friend and neighbor who happens to be a retired movie star for help. The woman give plain jane Gillian a makeover and gives send her on a cruise with her private investigator friends for protection.

Lex was shocked to see the Marilyn Monroe look a like he is supposed to be protecting on this cruise, complicated by the fact he can't hide his attraction to her.

They think they're safe until weird and dangerous things start happening to Gillian during the cruise. It's not long before they discover someone on the cruise knows Gillian is there and is trying to get rid of her as quickly as possible.

Nerds Like It Hot was cute, funny, and had the barest dash of danger. Gillian and Lex try hard to fight the attraction between them and when they finally let go it's hot.

The supporting characters, including the cross dressing murderer, were all entertaining in their own little ways. The lighter and more comical moments kept the book from being a dramatic suspense. It was more like a romantic comedy with murder thrown in!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Gillian McCormick, makeup artist to the stars, witnesses an actor with Mob connections murder another actor, she knows she needs to get the heck out of dodge. Gillian turns to her good friend and former actress Cora Bledsoe, who in turn calls in the big guns - P.I. partners Lex Manchester and Dante Fiorello - to help keep Gillian safe on a cruise for geeks until she can escape to South America. Lex knows he's in for trouble, though, because one glimpse of Gillian leaves him daydreaming of her voluptuous body. As the cruise progresses, though, it soon becomes clear that the Mob knows Gillian is onboard. Lex needs to stay close - very close - to Gillian to ensure her safety.

Thompson again creates a fantastic sociopathic villain. Neil Rucker, Mob-connected bad boy actor, and his alter-ego, Nancy Roth, are hilarious. It's hard to believe that a man could so convincingly hide out as a woman, even in a bathing suit. Not to mention that the murder weapon is a stiletto heel! That was just too good.

Nerds Like It Hot is one of the better books of this series - though most of them are excellent. Once again, I highly recommend this series.

Grade: A-

www.thehopelessbibliophile.com

[Elsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an earth-shaking book, but lots of fun.

The heroine, Gillian McCormick, is a makeup artist in Hollywood. Just as she was leaving the set after hours, she witnesses the murder of the leading man—and the murderer is the son-in-law of a well-known mobster. Her best friend Cora, a long-retired actress, suggests that Gillian accompany her on a cruise aimed at single geeks. Gillian agrees, and the two of them remake Gillian's wardrobe from the sexy clothes in Cora's closet. Cora calls on her young friend Lex Manchester to act as Gillian's guard, who reluctantly agrees to play a nerd for the cruise even though he has worked hard to get rid of the nerdy reputation he had back in high school. All should be well, except Gillian and Lex wind up trying to ignore the growing attraction to each other. And then they discover that the cruise is full of nerds hoping to get lucky—with a mobster and a cross-dressing sociopath to boot.

[Kezermezer · Rating 1 out of 5]

When Gillian McCormick witnesses a murder perpetrated by someone with connections to the mafia, she decides her best option is to lay low on a cruise catering to nerds before skipping the country mid trip. Along for the ride are her elderly friend who spawned said idea, and a pair of bodyguards, one of whom is Lex Manchester, the ostensibly sexy PI who is hiding some nerd tendencies of his own.

Vicki Lewis Thompson is really hit-or-miss for me, and Nerds Like It Hot was, unfortunately, a miss. The premise is silly, Lex and Gillian aren't compelling, the nerd thing is a gimmick that doesn't pay off, and Lex and his partner are inept PIs who keep Gillian alive largely by luck. The villain is a cross dresser who engages in anal sex because ooh! cross dressing and anal sex are bad! The whole thing is trite and uninspiring.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Sbuchler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Modern Romance

Occasionally very funny; but the plot hinged on two things I found it very difficult to suspend disbelief over:

1) Marilyn Monroe was a 1950s size 12. This is NOT at all the same thing as a modern size 12 - in modern measures she would've been something like a size 4 or 6 (am not 100% sure the exact conversion, I'm sure it's somewhere on line). The book claims she was a modern size 12.

2) There's really not much in the way of Italian Mafia in LA. sorry. Other brands of Mafia, probably. But the LAPD pretty much kept the Italian Mafia out in the 30s-50s by _being_ the equivalent of the Mafia themselves.