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Cocky Nerd
Not gonna lie to you.
When he walked into my restaurant, I thought he was the hottest man I’d ever seen in person.
And then he spoke.
And I realized who he was.
The world now knows him as John Brandt—ridiculously wealthy handsome genius workaholic startup founder and tech entrepreneur. I will always think of him as the annoying geek who's my older brother’s best friend. He yanked my pigtails and called me Tiny Dancer. I put rubber snakes in his sleeping bag and called him Johnny B. Nerdballs.
Market research has told him that he needs a girlfriend for an important business trip and gala event. He says he doesn’t want to bring someone that he has to impress or make an effort with, so he thought of me and figures I could use a nice vacation from my life right about now.
He is one cocky nerd. Even if he’s right.
I need the money and he can actually help me with my career, but I think he needs to be schooled in the art of treating a lady right. Lucky for him, I am just the woman to finally teach him…Turns out his total lack of social skills does not correspond to a lack of skills in the bedroom. At all. He even teaches me a few new tricks.
Every time he opens his obnoxious mouth I can’t believe this guy’s for real. Every time he touches me, every time he reminds me of who I was before I started to lose myself in the big city, I can’t believe that what we have right now is fake.
I’m afraid that by the end of the month either I will have punched him in the face, or the last man on earth I ever thought I’d fall in love with will have broken my heart. Or both.
SEXY NERD is a standalone older brother’s best friend / fake relationship romantic comedy with a real sexy nerd, real laughs, real steam and a real happy ending. Brainy is the new sexy!
*****Please SEXY NERD was originally published with the title COCKY NERD. The content of the book is the same. Only the title has changed.
When he walked into my restaurant, I thought he was the hottest man I’d ever seen in person.
And then he spoke.
And I realized who he was.
The world now knows him as John Brandt—ridiculously wealthy handsome genius workaholic startup founder and tech entrepreneur. I will always think of him as the annoying geek who's my older brother’s best friend. He yanked my pigtails and called me Tiny Dancer. I put rubber snakes in his sleeping bag and called him Johnny B. Nerdballs.
Market research has told him that he needs a girlfriend for an important business trip and gala event. He says he doesn’t want to bring someone that he has to impress or make an effort with, so he thought of me and figures I could use a nice vacation from my life right about now.
He is one cocky nerd. Even if he’s right.
I need the money and he can actually help me with my career, but I think he needs to be schooled in the art of treating a lady right. Lucky for him, I am just the woman to finally teach him…Turns out his total lack of social skills does not correspond to a lack of skills in the bedroom. At all. He even teaches me a few new tricks.
Every time he opens his obnoxious mouth I can’t believe this guy’s for real. Every time he touches me, every time he reminds me of who I was before I started to lose myself in the big city, I can’t believe that what we have right now is fake.
I’m afraid that by the end of the month either I will have punched him in the face, or the last man on earth I ever thought I’d fall in love with will have broken my heart. Or both.
SEXY NERD is a standalone older brother’s best friend / fake relationship romantic comedy with a real sexy nerd, real laughs, real steam and a real happy ending. Brainy is the new sexy!
*****Please SEXY NERD was originally published with the title COCKY NERD. The content of the book is the same. Only the title has changed.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2022
944 people are currently reading
836 people want to read
About the author
Kayley Loring
42 books1,682 followersAmazon Top 25 and USA Today bestselling author Kayley Loring spent many years as a screenwriter (under a different name) in Los Angeles before moving to the Pacific Northwest to live out her childhood dream of being a Disney heroine who talks and sings to woodland creatures. When not trying to keep animals alive, she’s writing steamy romantic comedy novels, obviously. She’s breathing cleaner air, writing dirtier words, and staring at her computer screen until her eyeballs dry out instead of prancing around Southern California in miniskirts and going to the hair salon. Still waiting for the woodland creatures to clean her house, though.
Read or listen to Kayley’s books when you want humor, heat, and heart. You’ll enjoy top-notch banter, strong heroines, lovable characters you’d want to know in real life and you’ll swoon over perfectly imperfect book boyfriends. All Kayley Loring books are steamy open door romance. Be sure to check out her next-level audiobooks!
Learn more at www.kayleyloring.com
Come join Kayley in her Facebook reader group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/kayle...
Follow Kayley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleyloring/
Listen to Kayley talk to the wildly talented narrators who narrate her audiobooks on the Multiple Eargasms with Kayley Loring podcast!
Read or listen to Kayley’s books when you want humor, heat, and heart. You’ll enjoy top-notch banter, strong heroines, lovable characters you’d want to know in real life and you’ll swoon over perfectly imperfect book boyfriends. All Kayley Loring books are steamy open door romance. Be sure to check out her next-level audiobooks!
Learn more at www.kayleyloring.com
Come join Kayley in her Facebook reader group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/kayle...
Follow Kayley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleyloring/
Listen to Kayley talk to the wildly talented narrators who narrate her audiobooks on the Multiple Eargasms with Kayley Loring podcast!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
May 16, 2022
"A part of us has to die before we can really fall in love. The person we fall in love with protects us and brings us back from the parts that are dead or broken, even if we can’t be together on the same plane of existence."
As you all know, Kayley Loring is my favorite and I've been making my way through her backlog. It's interesting for me that I get the same feels from her older books that I get from the newer ones. It's her voice and her writing. There's nothing quite like it.
And her heroes... well, damn.
"Stop talking. Dear God, please shut yer piehole you beautiful clueless bastard."
I wish I'd had a brother growing up. And that he'd had a best friend. He could've been a nerd, if he would've been a nerd like Johnny. OK, all the math, calculations, and need for control would probably have driven me up the walls, but everything else... shit. The guy has always seen her. Not just looked at her, but seen her. He was always aware of anything she said, she loved, and anything she did. Even when she pranked him.
"She’s like an all-time favorite song that passes through my consciousness on a regular basis, even when I don’t purposefully stop to listen. I smile and savor the thought of her."
Olivia was an interesting one. I don't think I ever fully connected to her. On some level I did: it's hard to be fully open about your feelings, and to really feel them, when the person on the other side is not. When they want to control everything. It's infuriating. And it's hard to keep guessing what's going on simply because the other person is not able to exteriorize what they mean in a 'normal' way. But... what is 'normal' anyway?
“Excuse me. I’m sure your taste in women is impeccable.”
He grins as he slowly looks me up and down. “I think it is.”
These two people are very different. The only thing they have in common is Olivia's family. Since John comes from a family of workaholics who've never been there for him, he's essentially grown in her house. He's her brother's best friend. Maybe it is because she was always around, but he never quite could get her out of his head. And although she's supposed to find him annoying AF, maybe that's not really the case.
"I need to loosen him up. Maybe he’s all talk and he isn’t really ready for action with me. Maybe I need to break down his workaholic nerd walls."
She's a dancer, and she works at a restaurant. He's a wealthy man and a brainiac start-up genius. She depends on emotions to do her job properly. He avoids them like the plague because they wouldn't be good for business. When he needs someone to go with him to some social functions, without any strings attached, he makes her an offer she can't refuse. Accompanied by a contract, of course, because he's an asshole. She says yes, even though she probably shouldn't.
And all bets are off.
"His immediate unrestrained passion is stunning to me, and I wonder if he’s been wanting this for longer than I’d realized. Given my body’s response to him, I even wonder if I’ve been wanting this for longer than I’d realized."
I love how he's into her, but she doesn't seem to be. I mean, he's Johnny Nerdballs, her archnemesis as a kid, right? But he's able to push down all her walls until they crumble. The thing is... will she be able to do the same to his?
"In just a week, John Brandt has gone from Brother’s Annoying Friend That I Want To Punch, to Person I Can’t Imagine Living Without Despite Sometimes Wanting To Punch Him."
There are so many moments when I wanted to punch him, because who lets you go when things get hot and heavy to attend a meeting? Yeah, no. But then I wanted to hold him and kiss him and do all other sorts of interesting things to him.
It's not his fault that he is the way he is. Life made him that way. He's too controlled, arrogantly intellectual, unable to commit, and a workaholic, but at the same time so in love. He's just unable to show it. Until he has no other choice, or he'll lose her.
"I’ve been falling in love with you for most of my life,"
The bottom line is that she doesn't feel like she can be a part of his world. She doesn't think she'll be enough. He needs to fully understand her, and she doesn't want to be understood. She simply needs him to just love her, without realizing he already does.
In fact, they already do love each other.
And they probably have for a while.
As you all know, Kayley Loring is my favorite and I've been making my way through her backlog. It's interesting for me that I get the same feels from her older books that I get from the newer ones. It's her voice and her writing. There's nothing quite like it.
And her heroes... well, damn.
"Stop talking. Dear God, please shut yer piehole you beautiful clueless bastard."
I wish I'd had a brother growing up. And that he'd had a best friend. He could've been a nerd, if he would've been a nerd like Johnny. OK, all the math, calculations, and need for control would probably have driven me up the walls, but everything else... shit. The guy has always seen her. Not just looked at her, but seen her. He was always aware of anything she said, she loved, and anything she did. Even when she pranked him.
"She’s like an all-time favorite song that passes through my consciousness on a regular basis, even when I don’t purposefully stop to listen. I smile and savor the thought of her."
Olivia was an interesting one. I don't think I ever fully connected to her. On some level I did: it's hard to be fully open about your feelings, and to really feel them, when the person on the other side is not. When they want to control everything. It's infuriating. And it's hard to keep guessing what's going on simply because the other person is not able to exteriorize what they mean in a 'normal' way. But... what is 'normal' anyway?
“Excuse me. I’m sure your taste in women is impeccable.”
He grins as he slowly looks me up and down. “I think it is.”
These two people are very different. The only thing they have in common is Olivia's family. Since John comes from a family of workaholics who've never been there for him, he's essentially grown in her house. He's her brother's best friend. Maybe it is because she was always around, but he never quite could get her out of his head. And although she's supposed to find him annoying AF, maybe that's not really the case.
"I need to loosen him up. Maybe he’s all talk and he isn’t really ready for action with me. Maybe I need to break down his workaholic nerd walls."
She's a dancer, and she works at a restaurant. He's a wealthy man and a brainiac start-up genius. She depends on emotions to do her job properly. He avoids them like the plague because they wouldn't be good for business. When he needs someone to go with him to some social functions, without any strings attached, he makes her an offer she can't refuse. Accompanied by a contract, of course, because he's an asshole. She says yes, even though she probably shouldn't.
And all bets are off.
"His immediate unrestrained passion is stunning to me, and I wonder if he’s been wanting this for longer than I’d realized. Given my body’s response to him, I even wonder if I’ve been wanting this for longer than I’d realized."
I love how he's into her, but she doesn't seem to be. I mean, he's Johnny Nerdballs, her archnemesis as a kid, right? But he's able to push down all her walls until they crumble. The thing is... will she be able to do the same to his?
"In just a week, John Brandt has gone from Brother’s Annoying Friend That I Want To Punch, to Person I Can’t Imagine Living Without Despite Sometimes Wanting To Punch Him."
There are so many moments when I wanted to punch him, because who lets you go when things get hot and heavy to attend a meeting? Yeah, no. But then I wanted to hold him and kiss him and do all other sorts of interesting things to him.
It's not his fault that he is the way he is. Life made him that way. He's too controlled, arrogantly intellectual, unable to commit, and a workaholic, but at the same time so in love. He's just unable to show it. Until he has no other choice, or he'll lose her.
"I’ve been falling in love with you for most of my life,"
The bottom line is that she doesn't feel like she can be a part of his world. She doesn't think she'll be enough. He needs to fully understand her, and she doesn't want to be understood. She simply needs him to just love her, without realizing he already does.
In fact, they already do love each other.
And they probably have for a while.
June 6, 2021
This was light-hearted, flirty, and fun! I always love a brother's best friend romance where the hero is the one who's had a crush on the heroine since they were younger.
May 1, 2018
Contrived Character Development and Slightly Racist
Premise was cute enough. The author could have spent a bit less time showing how main characters fit 'nerd' and 'dancer' stereotypes without detracting anything from plotline. Flashbacks were in no particular order and didn't always flow with plot. I was personally turned off by repeated references to "the sassy black lady in my head." It didn't add anything to the story, it wasn't cute or funny, and it was alienating as a black reader. Hopefully this author addresses that in future works.
Premise was cute enough. The author could have spent a bit less time showing how main characters fit 'nerd' and 'dancer' stereotypes without detracting anything from plotline. Flashbacks were in no particular order and didn't always flow with plot. I was personally turned off by repeated references to "the sassy black lady in my head." It didn't add anything to the story, it wasn't cute or funny, and it was alienating as a black reader. Hopefully this author addresses that in future works.
August 26, 2020
2.5 stars
After falling in mad love with Kayley Loring’s recent releases, I am continuing my obsession by making my way through her back catalogue. Sexy Nerd is a brother’s best friend romance that is funny, sexy and witty, with fun characters, but sadly the romance missed the mark a bit for me.
John is a genius tech millionaire who is completely devoted to his career, to the exclusion of pretty much everything else. He’s absolutely gorgeous and never has any trouble getting women, but when his marketing people tell him that he needs a girlfriend to improve his image, he turns to his best friend’s younger sister, and the woman he’s always secretly been in love with, Olivia.
Olivia is a professional ballet dancer who waitresses at a cafe to make ends meet. When John approaches her with his request and offers to pay her for her time, she jumps at the chance to be his fake girlfriend while he whisks her off to exotic cities to show her off to his business colleagues.
John and Olivia always got along as kids, but it was more of a brother/sister vibe and they teased and pranked each other constantly. Now they’re all grown up and Olivia is expecting John to be the complete nerd that he was growing up, but she is thrilled to discover that while he still has his nerdy tendencies, he is now completely confident, somewhat cocky, and is full of surprises, and the two of them soon find themselves completely swept up in wild sexy times.
It’s an odd dynamic as there’s not a whole lot of emotion, and though I certainly felt the lust between them, even that seemed a bit robotic at the beginning with random dirty talk and not a whole lot of attachment. The story is written in dual perspective, and I preferred John’s POV because he had feelings for Olivia from the very beginning. I didn’t really sense any build up from her until she suddenly realised she was in love with him, but again, I didn’t really feel that. There are definitely some sweet romantic moments, but there’s just something missing from these two as a couple to make the love story feel believable.
But it was a fun read, and I enjoyed the ending of the book where we finally got to see some feelings come in to play.
I’m really glad that I read this book after reading Loring’s more recent releases because I know what she’s capable of, and I look forward to continuing to explore more of her work.
2.5 stars – it was ok.
After falling in mad love with Kayley Loring’s recent releases, I am continuing my obsession by making my way through her back catalogue. Sexy Nerd is a brother’s best friend romance that is funny, sexy and witty, with fun characters, but sadly the romance missed the mark a bit for me.
John is a genius tech millionaire who is completely devoted to his career, to the exclusion of pretty much everything else. He’s absolutely gorgeous and never has any trouble getting women, but when his marketing people tell him that he needs a girlfriend to improve his image, he turns to his best friend’s younger sister, and the woman he’s always secretly been in love with, Olivia.
Olivia is a professional ballet dancer who waitresses at a cafe to make ends meet. When John approaches her with his request and offers to pay her for her time, she jumps at the chance to be his fake girlfriend while he whisks her off to exotic cities to show her off to his business colleagues.
John and Olivia always got along as kids, but it was more of a brother/sister vibe and they teased and pranked each other constantly. Now they’re all grown up and Olivia is expecting John to be the complete nerd that he was growing up, but she is thrilled to discover that while he still has his nerdy tendencies, he is now completely confident, somewhat cocky, and is full of surprises, and the two of them soon find themselves completely swept up in wild sexy times.
It’s an odd dynamic as there’s not a whole lot of emotion, and though I certainly felt the lust between them, even that seemed a bit robotic at the beginning with random dirty talk and not a whole lot of attachment. The story is written in dual perspective, and I preferred John’s POV because he had feelings for Olivia from the very beginning. I didn’t really sense any build up from her until she suddenly realised she was in love with him, but again, I didn’t really feel that. There are definitely some sweet romantic moments, but there’s just something missing from these two as a couple to make the love story feel believable.
But it was a fun read, and I enjoyed the ending of the book where we finally got to see some feelings come in to play.
I’m really glad that I read this book after reading Loring’s more recent releases because I know what she’s capable of, and I look forward to continuing to explore more of her work.
2.5 stars – it was ok.
March 26, 2018
2.5 stars
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, especially with such a hot guy on the cover, but once again if it took me more than a day to read, I guess it just wasn't that interesting.
John was a great character, but the flow of the story was awkward. His character development made sense and I love a "been in love with someone forever" story.
But it annoyed me how Olivia just instantly fell in love and in to bed with someone she had never thought of in that way, without any real build up of chemistry between the two.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, especially with such a hot guy on the cover, but once again if it took me more than a day to read, I guess it just wasn't that interesting.
John was a great character, but the flow of the story was awkward. His character development made sense and I love a "been in love with someone forever" story.
But it annoyed me how Olivia just instantly fell in love and in to bed with someone she had never thought of in that way, without any real build up of chemistry between the two.
December 6, 2019
This was cute, and fun to read. I didn’t feel they had more than sexual chemistry (at least on her end). I definitely liked the hero and enjoyed reading his point of view in the past to see how he’s always cared about her. It would have been nice to read the same from her.
March 1, 2020
4 Stars / 3 Steam Fans
Video review available in Week 9 Feb 23 – 29 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
Video review available in Week 9 Feb 23 – 29 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
February 20, 2019
💖
What a good book this was. I will admit I felt a little dumb reading this though. Who knew nerds could be so hot with their big confusing words. This was a fun read!
What a good book this was. I will admit I felt a little dumb reading this though. Who knew nerds could be so hot with their big confusing words. This was a fun read!
November 24, 2020
DNF at 51% 2 stars… this one hurts… I really wanted to love it, especially cause it has one of my favourite tropes ever, fake relationship in it… alas, it wasn’t meant to be… *sighs* let me tell you why… I guess some spoilery things below… because I can’t really explain my reasons for disliking the book without some details, but nothing major :) read at your own risk :)
- the writing style was very uneven… there were parts I loved and then other ones that made me roll my eyes pretty hard…
- I knew going into this that they actually knew one another from the past, I mean, he is friends with her older brother, but I didn’t expect that he did have a crush on her… for a while… to the point where a while back he made a decision to completely change himself so he would be more attractive / appealing for her? it was weird…
- also, it feels like he has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) with how he acts and has troubles with social cues and such… it’s not specified on page, at least not within the first half I read, but if that’s in fact the case, I feel like it’s a very problematic and very shallow representation…
- flashbacks were weird and unnecessary… they weirdly divided the current story and didn't really add anything important to the plot
- the story was like the writing style, uneven and all over the place… the change in heroine’s attitude gave me whiplash and the whole relationship lacked actual chemistry and connection
- I ultimately had to stop when I got to the first actual sex scene… because there were some sexy times before… but his comments were the final straw… I already forgot the details, but it was something like she was talking dirty and he said that she shouldn’t do it, cause it’s not what women should be doing or some other shit like that… again, I don’t remember the exact words, but I definitely remember the message… and especially coming from a guy who talks dirty to her all the time, it was the final thing that made me abandon this book…
I’m not sure if I will give this author another go… this book was a pretty big disappointment and I have way too many other books I am much more excited to try…
XOXO
A
- the writing style was very uneven… there were parts I loved and then other ones that made me roll my eyes pretty hard…
- I knew going into this that they actually knew one another from the past, I mean, he is friends with her older brother, but I didn’t expect that he did have a crush on her… for a while… to the point where a while back he made a decision to completely change himself so he would be more attractive / appealing for her? it was weird…
- also, it feels like he has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) with how he acts and has troubles with social cues and such… it’s not specified on page, at least not within the first half I read, but if that’s in fact the case, I feel like it’s a very problematic and very shallow representation…
- flashbacks were weird and unnecessary… they weirdly divided the current story and didn't really add anything important to the plot
- the story was like the writing style, uneven and all over the place… the change in heroine’s attitude gave me whiplash and the whole relationship lacked actual chemistry and connection
- I ultimately had to stop when I got to the first actual sex scene… because there were some sexy times before… but his comments were the final straw… I already forgot the details, but it was something like she was talking dirty and he said that she shouldn’t do it, cause it’s not what women should be doing or some other shit like that… again, I don’t remember the exact words, but I definitely remember the message… and especially coming from a guy who talks dirty to her all the time, it was the final thing that made me abandon this book…
I’m not sure if I will give this author another go… this book was a pretty big disappointment and I have way too many other books I am much more excited to try…
XOXO
A
May 27, 2021
3 stars. I liked this book and thought it was cute.
John is the nerd who has grown up to be head-turning good looking. But he's still that nerd that Olivia grew up with; her brother, Nathan's best friend. John may be good looking but he's still awkward AF. He's been pining away for his friend's little sister longer than he even realizes and now that they are both adults and he is successful, he wants to give Olivia the world. He just does it in some really odd ways.
Olivia is struggling to make it as a principal dancer in her ballet troupe, but she still does well for herself waiting tables and just being the person she is. But there is something missing in her life. More success and maybe even love. When her brother's BFF stops by her place of work with an offer she can't refuse, that's when things get interesting.
Overall, this book was cute. I liked the premise and the two as a couple. They obviously had some sexy physical chemistry. A few things just felt a little off as far as the way the characters acted and how their relationship progressed and went back on track, but it wasn't a deal breaker. Entertaining, cute and an alright book. The audio was good and I liked the woman narrator. BUT she almost made it seem like the hero was autistic or on the spectrum (which the author says he is not). Not a big deal if he was but the way he handled some things made it seem like it. The male narrator was alright, but sometimes seem a little feminine. Did not take away from the book which was a fun, light and quick read/listen.
John is the nerd who has grown up to be head-turning good looking. But he's still that nerd that Olivia grew up with; her brother, Nathan's best friend. John may be good looking but he's still awkward AF. He's been pining away for his friend's little sister longer than he even realizes and now that they are both adults and he is successful, he wants to give Olivia the world. He just does it in some really odd ways.
Olivia is struggling to make it as a principal dancer in her ballet troupe, but she still does well for herself waiting tables and just being the person she is. But there is something missing in her life. More success and maybe even love. When her brother's BFF stops by her place of work with an offer she can't refuse, that's when things get interesting.
Overall, this book was cute. I liked the premise and the two as a couple. They obviously had some sexy physical chemistry. A few things just felt a little off as far as the way the characters acted and how their relationship progressed and went back on track, but it wasn't a deal breaker. Entertaining, cute and an alright book. The audio was good and I liked the woman narrator. BUT she almost made it seem like the hero was autistic or on the spectrum (which the author says he is not). Not a big deal if he was but the way he handled some things made it seem like it. The male narrator was alright, but sometimes seem a little feminine. Did not take away from the book which was a fun, light and quick read/listen.
April 21, 2020
Meh its ok
The main girl got on my nerves. I just wanted her to not be in the book. Heck I might like the crazy ex better! She was really what ruined the story. Their "witty banter" felt extremely forced and her reasons for always being mad or angry at the guy made no sense. She didn't even seem annoyed just angry it was not likable at all. I wanted him to sign up for the matchmaking thing to find someone better. The ending was kind of nice but it also kind of slapped you in the face. Over all ok read, premise and writing styles were good. I would not recommend this book to anyone but I would still recommend the author as she has other good books that are 100% better then this. She probably wrote this to hit a deadline.
The main girl got on my nerves. I just wanted her to not be in the book. Heck I might like the crazy ex better! She was really what ruined the story. Their "witty banter" felt extremely forced and her reasons for always being mad or angry at the guy made no sense. She didn't even seem annoyed just angry it was not likable at all. I wanted him to sign up for the matchmaking thing to find someone better. The ending was kind of nice but it also kind of slapped you in the face. Over all ok read, premise and writing styles were good. I would not recommend this book to anyone but I would still recommend the author as she has other good books that are 100% better then this. She probably wrote this to hit a deadline.
June 29, 2019
I am so glad this book was dual pov, because if I had only gotten Olivia's pov I wouldn't have like John at all. Getting the story from his pov let us see his motivation for the things he did and/or said to her.
I will say that one of the reasons this didn't get rated higher is due to the sometimes pervy sounding flashbacks. I mean there was one when he got a boner when she was a preteen for goodness sake.
I will say that one of the reasons this didn't get rated higher is due to the sometimes pervy sounding flashbacks. I mean there was one when he got a boner when she was a preteen for goodness sake.
December 10, 2020
It was the over-sexualization of every single situation for me. I would totally love to have a John Brandt in my life, but there needed to be more than just an adorable brainiac to make this book something. #Maclan from A Very Bossy Christmas were cuter.
August 16, 2018
3.5 - Terrible title, cute book. This was just a happy book. Not too much angst and John was so weird, but I loved that about him. I saw another review say that he was so smart that he was dumb. Most of it worked for me, but I wasn't wowed.
April 21, 2019
4/5
This book was good! I didn’t enjoy it as much as a couple of Loring‘ other books, but I still enjoyed it! Would recommend if you are in the mood for a Sexy Nerd!
This book was good! I didn’t enjoy it as much as a couple of Loring‘ other books, but I still enjoyed it! Would recommend if you are in the mood for a Sexy Nerd!
December 21, 2021
Oh man.
As an ex ballerina, I am definitely a sucker for a ballerina romance. And while this one had everything I love (dark and brooding male lead, sassy ballerina, male lead with glasses) this one wasn't my favorite, the whole brother's best friend trope can sometimes get a little weird for me. As it's usually an older brother and the best friend having pants feelings really young. But Johnny has the "I'm so smart I'm dumb" energy that I adore.
But still had a great time, still inhaled. Not my favorite Loring, but still so good
As an ex ballerina, I am definitely a sucker for a ballerina romance. And while this one had everything I love (dark and brooding male lead, sassy ballerina, male lead with glasses) this one wasn't my favorite, the whole brother's best friend trope can sometimes get a little weird for me. As it's usually an older brother and the best friend having pants feelings really young. But Johnny has the "I'm so smart I'm dumb" energy that I adore.
But still had a great time, still inhaled. Not my favorite Loring, but still so good
April 19, 2020
4.50 ⭐ Her catalog of books has been exactly what I have needed over these past weeks. Still have a few more to go!
September 4, 2019
Another great book with a crappy cover. I didn’t think I could like a book about a ballet dancer and a startup founder but Loring proved me wrong again. Deeply moving and funny book that featured the best friend’s little sister trope.
June 2, 2022
Buongiorno lettori, eccomi tornata con nuove letture da consigliarvi, parto subito parlandovi di “Sexy Nerd” di Kayley Loring per Triskell edizioni.
Era da parecchio che questa lettura sostava nel mio kindle, continuavo a metterla da parte e non so davvero spiegarvi il perché, sta di fatto che quando finalmente mi sono decisa è stato un vero colpo di fulmine, sia con la storia che con lo stile di questa favolosa autrice.
“Le trema il labbro inferiore, ma riesce a nasconderlo con un timido sorriso che mi penetra dentro, mi afferra il cuore e poi me lo strappa dal petto quando dice a bassa voce: «Grazie, Johnny.»”
Lo stile ironico, frizzante e scorrevole di questa autrice, mi ha saputo coinvolgere fin dalle prime pagine. La storia è davvero molto simpatica, l’autrice ha saputo dare vita a una trama molto rosa esaltandone i tratti più ironici e inverosimili, riuscendo così a ricreare attorno al lettore un’atmosfera spensierata, leggera e davvero molto piacevole. Il punto forte a mio avviso è sicuramente il protagonista maschile che non inquadra il solito belloccio tenebroso, anzi pur essendo molto affascinante fisicamente, quello che lo rende interessante è il suo essere fastidiosamente nerd. I suoi dialoghi portano molto spesso a sorridere, soprattutto quando uniti a un botta e risposta con la piccola Olivia.
“Una parte di noi deve morire prima di poterci innamorare sul serio. La persona di cui ci innamoriamo ci protegge e ci fa riprendere dalle nostre parti morte o rotte, anche se non possiamo stare insieme sullo stesso piano di esistenza.
Anche se siamo diversi.”
Il lato più romantico e diciamo hot della storia è il filo che spinge la narrazione e che dà alla lettura quello sprint giusto che coinvolge e fa girare le pagine con voracità.
La cura del testo fa sicuramente la differenza, non ci sono mai intoppi grazie a una traduzione e a un editing ben fatti, aspetto per niente scontato e che sicuramente mi ha portata a una valutazione molto positiva.
Si dice che siano i libri a cercarci e a farsi leggere, be’ posso assicurarvi che è proprio così, ero bloccata e poco incline alla lettura ultimamente ma grazie a questa e a un’altra lettura di cui vi parlerò in seguito, sono riuscita a riprendermi la mia voglia di viaggiare attraverso le pagine.
Non mi resta che consigliarvi la lettura se cercate qualcosa di leggero, spensierato e ironico.
Alla prossima, Emanuela.
Era da parecchio che questa lettura sostava nel mio kindle, continuavo a metterla da parte e non so davvero spiegarvi il perché, sta di fatto che quando finalmente mi sono decisa è stato un vero colpo di fulmine, sia con la storia che con lo stile di questa favolosa autrice.
“Le trema il labbro inferiore, ma riesce a nasconderlo con un timido sorriso che mi penetra dentro, mi afferra il cuore e poi me lo strappa dal petto quando dice a bassa voce: «Grazie, Johnny.»”
Lo stile ironico, frizzante e scorrevole di questa autrice, mi ha saputo coinvolgere fin dalle prime pagine. La storia è davvero molto simpatica, l’autrice ha saputo dare vita a una trama molto rosa esaltandone i tratti più ironici e inverosimili, riuscendo così a ricreare attorno al lettore un’atmosfera spensierata, leggera e davvero molto piacevole. Il punto forte a mio avviso è sicuramente il protagonista maschile che non inquadra il solito belloccio tenebroso, anzi pur essendo molto affascinante fisicamente, quello che lo rende interessante è il suo essere fastidiosamente nerd. I suoi dialoghi portano molto spesso a sorridere, soprattutto quando uniti a un botta e risposta con la piccola Olivia.
“Una parte di noi deve morire prima di poterci innamorare sul serio. La persona di cui ci innamoriamo ci protegge e ci fa riprendere dalle nostre parti morte o rotte, anche se non possiamo stare insieme sullo stesso piano di esistenza.
Anche se siamo diversi.”
Il lato più romantico e diciamo hot della storia è il filo che spinge la narrazione e che dà alla lettura quello sprint giusto che coinvolge e fa girare le pagine con voracità.
La cura del testo fa sicuramente la differenza, non ci sono mai intoppi grazie a una traduzione e a un editing ben fatti, aspetto per niente scontato e che sicuramente mi ha portata a una valutazione molto positiva.
Si dice che siano i libri a cercarci e a farsi leggere, be’ posso assicurarvi che è proprio così, ero bloccata e poco incline alla lettura ultimamente ma grazie a questa e a un’altra lettura di cui vi parlerò in seguito, sono riuscita a riprendermi la mia voglia di viaggiare attraverso le pagine.
Non mi resta che consigliarvi la lettura se cercate qualcosa di leggero, spensierato e ironico.
Alla prossima, Emanuela.
June 14, 2022
3.5
" Le donne fanno fare una danza agli uomini e questi hanno paura che ci resteranno secchi. Ci innamoriamo, sentiamo di dover nascondere chi siamo davvero per farle innamorare di noi, loro scoprono che si tratta di una bugia e questo le uccide, ma le rende più forti e ci salvano nonostante non potremmo mai stare con loro per davvero.
Arte. Nasconde la verità tra la bellezza e i sentimenti. È una cosa nobile.
Però per me la matematica e la scienza hanno ancora più senso. Questo più questo è uguale a quello. Aggiungi questo a quello e ottieni quest’altro."
L'idea di base è molto carina, adoro le storie in cui uno dei due è innamorato segretamente da anni e aspetta la sua grande occasione e non si può dire che John non sia un uomo fedele a un obiettivo XD In generale però non ho sentito la chimica tra i due, il personaggio di Olivia per le sue scelte e i suoi atteggiamenti spesso mi ha quasi infastidito e anche lo stesso John, più che il nerd un pò goffo socialmente ma genuino che mi aspettavo, si rivela al contrario un uomo che capisce i rapporti sociali abbastanza da manipolare la gente ma non tanto da fargli notare o curarsi dei loro pensieri e sentimenti... in particolare le scene hot sono così fredde e analitiche che più che romanticismo e passione mi sembrava di assistere alla stesura di un libro di posizioni erotiche D:
" Le donne fanno fare una danza agli uomini e questi hanno paura che ci resteranno secchi. Ci innamoriamo, sentiamo di dover nascondere chi siamo davvero per farle innamorare di noi, loro scoprono che si tratta di una bugia e questo le uccide, ma le rende più forti e ci salvano nonostante non potremmo mai stare con loro per davvero.
Arte. Nasconde la verità tra la bellezza e i sentimenti. È una cosa nobile.
Però per me la matematica e la scienza hanno ancora più senso. Questo più questo è uguale a quello. Aggiungi questo a quello e ottieni quest’altro."
L'idea di base è molto carina, adoro le storie in cui uno dei due è innamorato segretamente da anni e aspetta la sua grande occasione e non si può dire che John non sia un uomo fedele a un obiettivo XD In generale però non ho sentito la chimica tra i due, il personaggio di Olivia per le sue scelte e i suoi atteggiamenti spesso mi ha quasi infastidito e anche lo stesso John, più che il nerd un pò goffo socialmente ma genuino che mi aspettavo, si rivela al contrario un uomo che capisce i rapporti sociali abbastanza da manipolare la gente ma non tanto da fargli notare o curarsi dei loro pensieri e sentimenti... in particolare le scene hot sono così fredde e analitiche che più che romanticismo e passione mi sembrava di assistere alla stesura di un libro di posizioni erotiche D:
April 7, 2020
Confusing and boring
Only got through 49% and couldn't read anymore. I don't normally leave a bad review but this book was confusing. It starts out two years ago then jumps to the present. Then jumps back 5 years, then back to present. Then jumps back 11 Years, and back to present. I understand what the author was trying to establish but it got boring.
Then the heroine starts acting like a slut. When she starts talking dirty, the hero admonishes her. That whole scene just irritated me so I called it quits.
Only got through 49% and couldn't read anymore. I don't normally leave a bad review but this book was confusing. It starts out two years ago then jumps to the present. Then jumps back 5 years, then back to present. Then jumps back 11 Years, and back to present. I understand what the author was trying to establish but it got boring.
Then the heroine starts acting like a slut. When she starts talking dirty, the hero admonishes her. That whole scene just irritated me so I called it quits.
July 17, 2019
Didn't like the narration. Probably wouldn't have given it as low of a rating if I'd just read it myself.
January 9, 2022
Proprio carino. Presto la recensione sul blog 😊
January 31, 2022
Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...
August 29, 2024
I really don’t know why I forced myself to finish this hoping it would get better. I felt grossed out by some of the flashbacks and really should have stopped there
September 6, 2023
Working my way through Kayley Loring's catalog. This wasn't my favorite, and the story left me feeling like I needed more. I felt a lot of frustration towards the MMC, and I was hoping to see that resolved. However, I didn't quite get it. I think I just didn't really understand the two leading characters enough to fully understand the HEA.
This was a bit more of a miss for me. I did enjoy reading it, but it was probably my least favorite Kayley book. The romance had so many frustrating moments where the MMC treated the FMC poorly, that I had a hard time cheering him on. I really wanted there to be a moment in the story where the FMC had enough of being treated badly, that she kicked him to the curb.
Overall the story was pretty low drama, no real pressure outside the relationship. There were a few plot points that I don't really feel were wrapped up/resolved, , so it just left me feeling like this story didn't go out with as satisfying of a bang as I would have hoped for.
My Take on the Main Characters: John works in extremes: arrogant, intelligent, and socially awkward. Which makes his character difficult to digest. I was hoping that he would soften up a bit towards the end, or have some redeeming internal monologue (Similar to Grumpy Boss), but it didn't quite happen. He has been in lust with the FMC since they were younger, . The story is about how he sets out with a plan, point A to point B, really without her input at all. I guess that bothers me, because the FMC ends up going along with it because he is hot.
The FMC knows the MMC well, and finds him frustrating. However, he finally shows up super hawt one day, and she is able to put aside his completely horrid personality and wants to jump his bones from minute 1. She even tries to insinuate that she won't have sex with him, and that lasts all of about 24 hours I think.
She is so in lust with him, that it is hard for me to see where she actually fell in love with his personality.
What I did/didn’t like:I didn't love this one, but I didn't hate it. At the end of the book I clearly wanted more, and I have a little bit of a book hangover, because I think I didn't get the HEA that I really wanted. Though don't get me wrong, they have a HEA.
I just didn't understand the romantic motivations between the two main characters. I didn't really understand the resolution at the end of the book, and I certainly didn't feel like the MMC earned his place in the FMC life.
I really wanted to see the ending, but I just wasn't satisfied with this. Sad
This was a bit more of a miss for me. I did enjoy reading it, but it was probably my least favorite Kayley book. The romance had so many frustrating moments where the MMC treated the FMC poorly, that I had a hard time cheering him on. I really wanted there to be a moment in the story where the FMC had enough of being treated badly, that she kicked him to the curb.
Overall the story was pretty low drama, no real pressure outside the relationship. There were a few plot points that I don't really feel were wrapped up/resolved, , so it just left me feeling like this story didn't go out with as satisfying of a bang as I would have hoped for.
My Take on the Main Characters: John works in extremes: arrogant, intelligent, and socially awkward. Which makes his character difficult to digest. I was hoping that he would soften up a bit towards the end, or have some redeeming internal monologue (Similar to Grumpy Boss), but it didn't quite happen. He has been in lust with the FMC since they were younger, . The story is about how he sets out with a plan, point A to point B, really without her input at all. I guess that bothers me, because the FMC ends up going along with it because he is hot.
The FMC knows the MMC well, and finds him frustrating. However, he finally shows up super hawt one day, and she is able to put aside his completely horrid personality and wants to jump his bones from minute 1. She even tries to insinuate that she won't have sex with him, and that lasts all of about 24 hours I think.
She is so in lust with him, that it is hard for me to see where she actually fell in love with his personality.
What I did/didn’t like:I didn't love this one, but I didn't hate it. At the end of the book I clearly wanted more, and I have a little bit of a book hangover, because I think I didn't get the HEA that I really wanted. Though don't get me wrong, they have a HEA.
I just didn't understand the romantic motivations between the two main characters. I didn't really understand the resolution at the end of the book, and I certainly didn't feel like the MMC earned his place in the FMC life.
I really wanted to see the ending, but I just wasn't satisfied with this. Sad
April 20, 2018
Check out my quirky interview with Kayley Lorings at https://whiskeyangellife.com/2018/04/20/friday-fivesome-with-author-kayley-loring/
While looking for a fun weekend read, I stumbled upon Cocky Nerd by Kayley Loring. At that point I had not read anything by this author, but right away I loved the cover and the blurb and decided that this would be my weekend read. Realistically though??? It ended up being a Friday night/ early Saturday morning read. I read well into the night, many times saying to myself, that famous line all of us die hard readers say “Just one more chapter” Ha!!!
Cocky Nerd is told in a dual POV which always scores points with me. I love when authors write from the male POV. And let me tell you, Miss Loring wrote Johnny Nerdballs Brant to perfection. His character is hot, super smart & charming, yet there were so many times that I wanted to punch him in the face at a rate of some mathematical equation….read the book, you’ll see what I mean.
I really enjoyed that Kayley didn’t write the typical alpha male lead. It was a very welcome change from the norm and worked so well for the over flow and story line of the book.
A line from the female lead, Olivia, perfect sums up this book:
In just a week, John Brandt has gone from Brother’s Annoying Friend That I Want To Punch, to Person I Can’t Imagine Living Without Despite Sometimes Wanting To Punch Him.
I easily rate Cocky Nerd a 5 Star read! Its fun, unique, witty and steamy! You will not be disappointed. Also, it is currently available on KU!
While looking for a fun weekend read, I stumbled upon Cocky Nerd by Kayley Loring. At that point I had not read anything by this author, but right away I loved the cover and the blurb and decided that this would be my weekend read. Realistically though??? It ended up being a Friday night/ early Saturday morning read. I read well into the night, many times saying to myself, that famous line all of us die hard readers say “Just one more chapter” Ha!!!
Cocky Nerd is told in a dual POV which always scores points with me. I love when authors write from the male POV. And let me tell you, Miss Loring wrote Johnny Nerdballs Brant to perfection. His character is hot, super smart & charming, yet there were so many times that I wanted to punch him in the face at a rate of some mathematical equation….read the book, you’ll see what I mean.
I really enjoyed that Kayley didn’t write the typical alpha male lead. It was a very welcome change from the norm and worked so well for the over flow and story line of the book.
A line from the female lead, Olivia, perfect sums up this book:
In just a week, John Brandt has gone from Brother’s Annoying Friend That I Want To Punch, to Person I Can’t Imagine Living Without Despite Sometimes Wanting To Punch Him.
I easily rate Cocky Nerd a 5 Star read! Its fun, unique, witty and steamy! You will not be disappointed. Also, it is currently available on KU!
July 21, 2021
Que puedo decir de este libro, más que fue una montaña rusa de emociones?.
Al principio estaba muy feliz por que es un tipo de libro que me cuesta mucho encontrar, en los que el protagonista masculino tiene un crush o enamoramiento por la chica. Los POV de John me encantaron, me parecía que era muy tierno su enamoramiento hacia la hermanita de su mejor amigo, pero cuando no estábamos en su POV parecía un personaje totalmente distinto, llegó a decirle cada cosa a la protagonista... yo no hubiera dejado que me hablen asi ni un segundo, llegó a tratarla de tonta, cuestionar sus sueños, incluso en cierto punto sus gustos sexuales🙄. Y lo peor es que ella cuando pasaba esto más le gustaba (really????).
Además todo el tema del enamoramiento de ella me pareció irreal, nunca había pensado en el de esa forma, y a los 5 minutos ya estaba enamorada de el? Encima me pareció un personaje con poca dignidad por momentos, se dejaba insultar o tratar mal, y no me gustó nada
Creo que también quiso abarcar otros temas o personajes, y al ser un libro corto, no se llegaron a desarrollar, odio eso en los libros, incorporar tramas o personajes si no hay tiempo de darle un sentido me parece súper innecesario.
Mi puntuación de 1.5 se debe todo a que me gustó el personaje de John al principio, y que tuvo sus partes buenas (pero escasas).
Al principio estaba muy feliz por que es un tipo de libro que me cuesta mucho encontrar, en los que el protagonista masculino tiene un crush o enamoramiento por la chica. Los POV de John me encantaron, me parecía que era muy tierno su enamoramiento hacia la hermanita de su mejor amigo, pero cuando no estábamos en su POV parecía un personaje totalmente distinto, llegó a decirle cada cosa a la protagonista... yo no hubiera dejado que me hablen asi ni un segundo, llegó a tratarla de tonta, cuestionar sus sueños, incluso en cierto punto sus gustos sexuales🙄. Y lo peor es que ella cuando pasaba esto más le gustaba (really????).
Además todo el tema del enamoramiento de ella me pareció irreal, nunca había pensado en el de esa forma, y a los 5 minutos ya estaba enamorada de el? Encima me pareció un personaje con poca dignidad por momentos, se dejaba insultar o tratar mal, y no me gustó nada
Creo que también quiso abarcar otros temas o personajes, y al ser un libro corto, no se llegaron a desarrollar, odio eso en los libros, incorporar tramas o personajes si no hay tiempo de darle un sentido me parece súper innecesario.
Mi puntuación de 1.5 se debe todo a que me gustó el personaje de John al principio, y que tuvo sus partes buenas (pero escasas).
March 6, 2019
Now this romance I liked! I think it's because the hero kinda/sorta/not really reminded me of my husband - so focused on work and thinking, crazy ideas in his head, he doesn't really understand his own appeal. Maybe that's why I liked it more than others I've read recently?
Because as a main character, neither the hero nor the heroine were that great. And the whole protective-brother trope - it all seemed to be resolved so quickly, I wonder why they were even concerned with it?
(On that, I have a brother who's only 18 months younger than me and he's never had to wade in and protect his sister against some man, in fact, he's only ever punched one boyfriend of mine but the guy was a complete toad and probably pissed my brother off all on his own. Just pointing out)
I like Kayley Loring's writing. She has a great wit, excellent perception into the hero's dialogue and I like her stories. Still, again, I wanted more of the background relationships, and that's why it's a 3.
Because as a main character, neither the hero nor the heroine were that great. And the whole protective-brother trope - it all seemed to be resolved so quickly, I wonder why they were even concerned with it?
(On that, I have a brother who's only 18 months younger than me and he's never had to wade in and protect his sister against some man, in fact, he's only ever punched one boyfriend of mine but the guy was a complete toad and probably pissed my brother off all on his own. Just pointing out)
I like Kayley Loring's writing. She has a great wit, excellent perception into the hero's dialogue and I like her stories. Still, again, I wanted more of the background relationships, and that's why it's a 3.
March 28, 2018
Sexy, Sweet and Socially Inept
Another book about nerds that I love. Love.
You’d think that a voice from a socially stunted (at least in private) CEO/Techie/MIT graduate would be uninteresting, but that’s not the case at all. The heroine is pretty funny, too in a more intentional way.
The story takes you back and forth from various times when they were kids, with him growing up in their house (because his workaholic parents were always working). At first it felt distracting, but then it’s a way to see how his love was so slow-burn, and how he fell into it so deeply he can’t get out. And with the heroine, too.
Wonderfully written, deserves all the five starts it gets.
(Oh, and the cute & sexy cover model? Is totally Johnnie)
Another book about nerds that I love. Love.
You’d think that a voice from a socially stunted (at least in private) CEO/Techie/MIT graduate would be uninteresting, but that’s not the case at all. The heroine is pretty funny, too in a more intentional way.
The story takes you back and forth from various times when they were kids, with him growing up in their house (because his workaholic parents were always working). At first it felt distracting, but then it’s a way to see how his love was so slow-burn, and how he fell into it so deeply he can’t get out. And with the heroine, too.
Wonderfully written, deserves all the five starts it gets.
(Oh, and the cute & sexy cover model? Is totally Johnnie)
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