You know that feeling when you start a book and suddenly realize that you are so not that book’s target audience? Well, that’s exactly how I felt trying to finish Vicki Lewis Thompson’s Nerd Gone Wild. This book is just frankly, so not me.

I know the author’s Nerd books have struck a chord with many readers, but apparently I’m not one of them. I could not tolerate these cardboard and occasionally deplorably zany characters, their superficial antics, or their romance, which failed to engage me at all. And despite those who love this author’s humor, I found her newest to be oh-so not funny.

There’s this heiress named Ally, you see, who wants to do something really great in the world all by herself without all the influence and special privileges that her pesky money buys her, so she goes all the way up to Alaska (in January, mind you) to become a wildlife photographer. But, her grandmother – recently deceased, of course, so that Ally is now in possession of all her money – worried about the poor dear and hired this studly PI named Mitch to make certain Ally would be protected from a mean uncle who’s after all her money. Problem is, Granny insisted that the hunky PI pose as a nerdy estate manager, complete with florescent orange parka and ear flap cap (with a yellow pom pom), so even though he’s hunky and they’re stuck together in this small hotel during an Alaskan blizzard, Ally doesn’t know that he’s really cute, because he has to be (we’ve got to keep the franchise going, you know) a Nerd. And you know what would make all this cuter and even funnier? They have to share a bathroom!

Well, as if all that weren’t enough, along with coping with the randy hotel landlady and the obligatory contingent of your garden variety Alaskan eccentrics, soon enough into the mix comes Ally’s mean uncle, complete with his dominatrix girlfriend who’s posing as the heiress’s wildlife photographer idol. Mitch, being the studly PI that he really is, knows that they’re up to no good, but with danger so close at hand, how can he protect Ally without blowing his Nerd cover?

Okay, I was curious about Thompson’s books and seriously hoping I’d have a new light, fun author to glom. Didn’t happen. While I love fun books, I also like a little substance to them and – call me demanding – characters who act like real people. Everybody here – and I do mean everybody – is a stereotype. Add in the fact that the author’s humor didn’t even remotely hit the right notes for me and Nerd Gone Wild never rose above a D read.

What did I like? Well, the Alaskan setting. I like reading about the cold and snow and the author does a fairly good job of evoking the atmosphere of a small isolated town in the midst of a blizzard. And the author’s prose itself isn’t bad. But, sadly, that’s about it.

Since I haven’t read either of the previous Nerd romances, I can’t say if this one is any better or worse to help guide those many readers who enjoyed them. But for those who haven’t yet tried the author, my recommendation is that unless you have a very high tolerance for wacky zaniness, you would be well advised to keep clear. I certainly plan to in the future.