Nerd Gone Wild

The third book in Ms. Thompson's on-going NERD Series, NERD GONE WILD does everything but fail to disappoint. This book joins together another no-nonsense heroine in the form of spunky Ally Jarrett, a nerd-in-disguise hero, Mitchell Carruthers, and a set of chilly circumstances that's bound to heat up even the most jaded romance reader.

For Ally, there's only been on goal for as long as she can remember-head to Alaska, that glacial state where moose outnumber humans ten to one, and take photographs of the wildlife. So, her grandmother died and left her millions? That's nothing but a blip on her Alaska-trekking radar. So, she needs to sign about a million pages of paperwork to transfer deeds, settle estates, take charge of stocks? She can show more do that, if scrawling her name will get her on that plane to the wilderness faster. So, she has to deal with pencil-pushing, fashion-failure Mitchell to get all of her grandmother's affairs in order? It's a tough task, but if it will lead to escape in the freezing wilds of Alaska, she'll do what she needs to do.

She arrives in Porcupine, Alaska, free of social restraints and one wardrobe-challenged legal adviser, and she's finally free to embark on the adventures that Alaska has to offer. Sort of. That is, she would have been able to embark on adventures, if she hadn't been waylaid by Betsy, the proprietor of the Loose Moose lodge, on her way out the door with her camera. And if one Mitchell Carruthers, dressed in a gigantic orange parka that appeared to be the offspring of a mating between a giant emergency cone and a dreamsicle, hadn't shown up at the lodge just as she was attempting to leave. And, of course, if a blizzard roaring into town hadn't forced said fashion-disaster, geek in a suit, nerd with a pocket protector, to become the second guest at a lodge in the middle of nowhere.

Mitchell, of course, isn't just a card-carrying member of Nerds-R-Us. He's a private investigator and a bodyguard, masquerading as a simple assistant to Ally's late grandmother. He was hired to do much more than protect the financial assets of the Jarrett fortune-but he seems to be getting side-tracked by the very personal assets of one Miss Ally Jarrett. Too bad Ally can't do anything but shudder at his geek disguise every time she looks at him.

What follows is a hilarious romp through the Alaskan wilderness, some chilly days avoiding danger, and some hot, hot nights between the sheets. Kudos to Ms. Thompson for another great NERD book. I, for one, can't wait to see what comes next. show less

Ally is an heiress who's grandmother has recently passed away, leaving her a fortune. But Ally has no desire to be involved in the running of her grandmother's estate or affairs, or being a society woman. Instead she packs up and flies to Alaska, camera in tow, to photograph wildlife. Her uncle Kurt, who lives in Alaska, has arranged for a famous photographer to meet her there and provide some one on one mentoring.

She's dismayed when Mitchell, her grandmother's nerdy personal assistant shows up, under the flimsy excuse of coming across some paperwork that needs her signature. She thinks he's really followed her because he has a crush on her. She doesn't know that he's actually a private investigator/bodyguard, hiding behind a nerd show more persona, but she does slowly become aware of the hot bod he's hiding under his nerdy clothes.

Mitchell isn't a true nerd, though he has nerd roots from his high school days, which helps him carry off the persona. And of course he is attracted to Ally, but he really did follow her because he promised her grandmother he would protect her. Ally doesn't know the true story behind why her uncle Kurt was banished from the family home and why her grandmother would never even allow his name to be spoken in her presence. But grandma did confide in Mitchell, and Mitchell is determined to keep Kurt from trying to get his hands on any of Ally's inheritance.

There are lots of wacky supporting characters – in fact, every supporting character seems to be wackier than the last. There's plenty of humor, and there's a pretty hot strip poker game. I didn't love this one as much as Bo show less

Ally Jarrett is staying at the Loose Moose Lodge in Porcupine, Alaska. She happens to be there to learn how to photograph the wildlife, which she has only felt able to do once her grandmother passes away. Not long after her arrival the one person that could ruin everything shows up.

Mitchell J. Carruthers Jr., Ally's grandmother's "personal assistant." In actuality, Mitch is a personal body guard and a Private Investigator but he can't let Ally know. Her grandmother hired Mitch to protect Ally from her uncle who is planning on disposing of Ally to get to her fortune. But, of course, Ally trusts him(what could possibly go wrong?!??)!

Now if only Mitch can just do his job without letting his feelings get in the way, because where would the show more fun be at if they didn't fall in love and hate each other at the same time : )?

Throughout the story, Mitch's "nerd" facade starts to crack under the heat that he and Ally are putting off in that lodge. Then the whole story comes down to a climactic, life-threatening and revealing end (for the characters at least).

I find all of the Nerd novels (that I've read at least--which is about three) highly amusing and very entertaining. It is yet another easy read but since I don't read those types of books unless I'm in the mood for it, that's not really a surprise.

The characters seemed slightly under-developed, they didn't seem to have any type of past, other than Ally's grandmother and Mitch's employer passing away. But at the same time, their pasts were not exactly relevant to the story or the plot.

The plot may not have the most original (with as many romances novels in the world as there are, it would be excruciatingly hard to come up with an original) but it had enough twists to keep it alive.

But I still enjoyed it and these books have landing on my keep pile and also may have wiggled their way onto my "favorites" bookshelf. show less

Funny book with decent plot, lots of action and exciting ending but many times after an action the characters would ruminate on it so my rating is 3.5* Heiress Ally wants to photograph the wilds of Alaska and PI bodyguard Mitch tries to protect her from fortune hunters by playing a nerd.

Ally Jarrett is a deprived rich girl who after her grandmother kicks the bucket is finally able to reach out and do what she wants with her life. Unfortunately, before her grandmother died she appointed Ally a secret bodyguard who has been posing as the grandmother’s personal assistant, Mitchell. When Ally travels to Alaska in order to pursue her dream of becoming a professional photographer, Mitch is right behind her. Suddenly, Ally finds herself stuck in a small town with an annoying nerd and a strange assortment of people whose favorite topic of discussion is sex.

I picked up this book knowing the guy was a fake nerd, but I thought they would’ve played the nerdiness up a bit more. Instead, he only seems really nerdy in the very show more beginning and only for a few pages before his “true colors” start coming through. The plot was eh and Ally and Mitch tended to bore me sometimes. I ended up skimming through most of this book. The only really redeeming quality of this book was the fact that the writing was good just the plot and main characters were lacking and also the side characters were great. I loved them; they were all such a great assortment of eccentric odd-balls. show less

A little too spicey for my taste.Got to page 58 and stopped , leave the spice and enhance the comedy would be my recommendation.

From BackCover:
THE HEIRESS WITH A HOT FORTUNE AND LOOKS TO MATCH…
Inheriting a fortune means less to Ally Jarrett than fulfilling her real dream: to take off for the wilds of Alaska and photograph animals. Unfortunately she's also inherited her grandmother's personal assistant-an over-protective nerd who couldn't survive a snowball fight.

THE NERD WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD…
As a PI and bodyguard, Mitchell Caruthers is the perfect man to protect his late employer's granddaughter. However, keeping his geek-masquerade-and the secret behind his real mission-isn't easy when the freeze between Ally and Mitchell begins to melt.

THEY’RE IN DANGER, OVER THEIR HEADS, AND UNDER THE GUN…
Yet all's not well in this sub-zero paradise. Ally's show more bad seed uncle is staking a claim on the family inheritance with a dangerous masquerade of his own. With Ally's life in danger, it's time for her right-hand nerd to expose the real man undercover, and prove himself to the vulnerable body he's been hired to guard… show less