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Nerds of Paradise #3
Carbon Dating
A boy... A girl... A dinosaur...
Laura Kincade is a nerd, and proud of it. She designs rockets, she hunts for dinosaur fossils, and she knows who she is. So when sizzling cowboy Ted Flint bumps into her at a party-literally, with messy results-she instantly feels out of her depth. Could a guy like Ted really be interested in a girl like her? It certainly seems like it when he invites her out to his ranch to take a look at his bone.
*ahem* His DINOSAUR bone.
Ted has never met anyone like Laura. She's funny, smart, and adorable. So why is she playing so hard to get? He has a harder time getting her to say yes to a date with him than he has digging up the fossil Laura discovers on his ranch. If not for ice cream, all would be lost.
But when the value of the fossil leaks to the community, Ted suddenly finds himself fighting to keep it and the ranch, and Laura too. The Bonnevilles will stop at nothing to claim the discovery for themselves, and Ted and Laura find themselves in danger of losing the battle, and each other too.
A boy... A girl... A dinosaur... And love.
Laura Kincade is a nerd, and proud of it. She designs rockets, she hunts for dinosaur fossils, and she knows who she is. So when sizzling cowboy Ted Flint bumps into her at a party-literally, with messy results-she instantly feels out of her depth. Could a guy like Ted really be interested in a girl like her? It certainly seems like it when he invites her out to his ranch to take a look at his bone.
*ahem* His DINOSAUR bone.
Ted has never met anyone like Laura. She's funny, smart, and adorable. So why is she playing so hard to get? He has a harder time getting her to say yes to a date with him than he has digging up the fossil Laura discovers on his ranch. If not for ice cream, all would be lost.
But when the value of the fossil leaks to the community, Ted suddenly finds himself fighting to keep it and the ranch, and Laura too. The Bonnevilles will stop at nothing to claim the discovery for themselves, and Ted and Laura find themselves in danger of losing the battle, and each other too.
A boy... A girl... A dinosaur... And love.
268 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 18, 2017
The only good thing that came out of this week is probably this book.
There's a presence of chemistry between the characters, there's character development, and also the characters' relationship is well-developed in the sense that it grows gradually and is believable.
And it also helps that both main characters ARE SO ADORABLE TOGETHER.
There's a presence of chemistry between the characters, there's character development, and also the characters' relationship is well-developed in the sense that it grows gradually and is believable.
And it also helps that both main characters ARE SO ADORABLE TOGETHER.
July 12, 2023
I think I started falling in love with Ted from the very first book. He embodies all the noble characteristics we expect from someone who can be described as a “cowboy”. Laura frustrated me almost as badly as she broke my heart. She’s been through some difficult things that have left her skittish about relationships, but it was her complete disbelief in her value as a romantic partner that nearly killed me. I loved seeing the tender way Ted kept showing her how much he valued her. I also kind of loved seeing the “villains” of this book getting put back in their place. However, I’m more curious than ever to see what’s coming next.
September 21, 2017
I enjoyed this book and felt a personal connection to Laura, one of the protagonists. She, like I am, is socially inept, has self-confidence issues, likes dinosaurs (Have you heard about Patagotitan? It is even larger than Argentinosaurus!) and other science related (”nerdy”) subjects, has been in the Army (although I was never deployed, Fort Polk, Louisiana should qualify for hardship pay), and went to school on the GI Bill. Finding characters like this is uncommon in any book, let alone a romance novel; even those who love The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Doctor Who, and Star Trek enjoy a romance every now and then.
This book is fun to read. The action and dialogue are believable, unlike some books (including many romances) where I end up rolling my eyes at least once a chapter. Socially awkward Laura thinks hot Ted is playing a joke on her by asking her out. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, except that it really was a case of a guy being put up to it. She is also clumsy when flustered, a very normal reaction that most characters in books do not have.
One little thing that was strange was the choice of vehicle. Laura, in a flashback, was riding in a Jeep on deployment. If this was World War II or Korea it would make sense. These days, though, the only Jeeps you will see on base are POVs (privately owned vehicles). Some open vehicles are used, but they are not Jeeps and it was more common to see or ride in Humvees during the time Laura was in Afghanistan. This is a very minor detail that does not subtract from the plot in any way but struck me as funny.
I would suggest this book for high school age and above. There is some somewhat graphic sex, but older teens know sex exists (or should). However, those with PTSD from or want to avoid thinking about being deployed in Afghanistan or IEDs should steer clear.
I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways program. Thank you to the author and/or publisher.
This book is fun to read. The action and dialogue are believable, unlike some books (including many romances) where I end up rolling my eyes at least once a chapter. Socially awkward Laura thinks hot Ted is playing a joke on her by asking her out. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, except that it really was a case of a guy being put up to it. She is also clumsy when flustered, a very normal reaction that most characters in books do not have.
One little thing that was strange was the choice of vehicle. Laura, in a flashback, was riding in a Jeep on deployment. If this was World War II or Korea it would make sense. These days, though, the only Jeeps you will see on base are POVs (privately owned vehicles). Some open vehicles are used, but they are not Jeeps and it was more common to see or ride in Humvees during the time Laura was in Afghanistan. This is a very minor detail that does not subtract from the plot in any way but struck me as funny.
I would suggest this book for high school age and above. There is some somewhat graphic sex, but older teens know sex exists (or should). However, those with PTSD from or want to avoid thinking about being deployed in Afghanistan or IEDs should steer clear.
I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways program. Thank you to the author and/or publisher.
May 14, 2017
The bone
Ted saw Laura and she was the one for him. Laura had other ideas and fears. Now we have a dinosaur bone to add to the mix. What a fabulous story!
Ted saw Laura and she was the one for him. Laura had other ideas and fears. Now we have a dinosaur bone to add to the mix. What a fabulous story!
October 16, 2021
I just love a good character-driven romance, and this story is definitely that. Laura is such a great character. I loved her background with her brother and the dinosaurs and the military and the engineering. Just great. And Ted was fantastic, too. I loved the dynamic of a good 'ole hometown boy and a woman who had traveled the world and done things few had tried. It was a great mash-up of personalities, and definitely a great take on "opposites attract" type relationships.
The story starts with Ted talking with Laura at his sister's engagement party, and he's immediately attracted to her and her brain, which is seriously fantastic. A dude turned on by a woman who decides to go into rocket engineering after serving in the military?
Ted asks Laura out, but she thinks he's way out of her league, so she turns him down. So, Ted does what every man would do...asks Laura to come see his bone.
Ted happens to have some sort of bone sticking out of the ground in his field, and he invites Laura to check it out as a way to spend more time with her. Turns out it is a dinosaur bone, and luckily Laura has palaeontologist connections, so now Ted gets to see more of Laura.
He eventually wears her down, and Laura agrees to go out with him, and total cuteness ensues.
Unfortunately, Laura has self-esteem issues and issues with people leaving her, so she's always second-guessing the relationship and doesn't think it's possible for Ted to actually be attracted to her. To be honest, it does get to be a bit too much by the end, which is why this isn't quite a 5-star read for me. Just too many self-depreciating remarks for me.
Overall, I thought this was super cute and fun. The writing is great, the characters are well-developed, and the story was original. This can definitely be read as a standalone, too.
September 9, 2017
"Carbon Dating" is a quirky, delightful story filled with realistic people, like those who spill their food at weddings and are awkward around a girl.
Read full review in the 2017 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2017 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews