Liza Reviews A View to a Nerd by Chris Redding

Today, Chris Redding is here with her book, A View to a Nerd.


Peep Rep: I'm a nerd!


Liza: I'm pretty sure her nerd is far more interesting.


Peep Rep: *Sighs* Probably right. So is there a prize?


Liza: Yes, there's a $15 Gift Card (Amazon or B/N) to a randomly draw person from the Rafflecopter.


Peep Rep: I want to win it!


Liza: Let's first check out the book.

 A View to a Nerd

by Chris Redding

Waking up next to a dead guy can ruin your whole day. When a wise-cracking interior decorator wants to put her past behind her, the dead body of the mayor’s son makes her realize that won’t happen too easily. A conservative former computer geek for the FBI is holding on too tightly to his past. His wife died under suspicious circumstances and he believes the decorator has the information to solve the case. Unfortunately for him, she isn’t speaking until a series of events convinces her she needs protection especially when her biggest secret threatens to destroy both of their lives. This was originally published as A View to a Kilt.

Would she ever be warm again?


Donner left her in an interrogation room and went to get coffee. The room, painted in a subdued green, had what Miriam presumed to be a two-way mirror on one wall.  A tape recorder for her statement sat on the table. She couldn’t seem to stop shivering despite rubbing her hands up and down her arms. Standing, she began to pace. 


A urine smell wrinkled her nose. She jammed a lock of blonde hair behind her ear and caught a look at herself in the mirror.


“Bedhead, big time,” she said to her reflection. Her crumpled dress added to the picture. She admitted she looked as if she could kill someone. Even her hot pink, sheath dress looked odd on her. 


How she looked was the least of her worries now. Doubling in pain, new tears streamed down her face. “Oh, God, Joe. What were you into since I last saw you?”


Her stomach rumbled as much from stress as hunger. When she straightened, Donner stood in the doorway, coffees in hand, trying not to look at her. “Want one?”


Miriam nodded. Crossing the small room, he handed her a cup of black liquid, which might have been coffee, but didn’t smell like any she’d ever had.  Mark, her cop ex-husband, never drank coffee at home, she thought, wondering why this memory should come forth now. Maybe being in a police station for the first time since his conviction made her think about him.


Donner settled himself on the chair opposite the one she had just occupied. He pulled out a pen and scribbled something in a small pad, then looked up at her. He indicated the chair. Miriam shook her head.


“I need you closer to the tape recorder.”


Miriam shrugged and sat down, wrapping her arms around herself. “Do I need a lawyer?”


“If you want a lawyer, call one now.”


“Am I being charged?”


“No, and the Lieutenant will be by in a moment. Let me review.  You met Mr. Waltney in a bar last night.”

Review of A View to a Nerd

The title is a bit misleading. It sounds like a humorous comedy, when in fact, the book is an action/suspense/thriller with a fine romance on top.  But then this is part of a series: The Nerds Saving the World, which should help focus readers to it’s true intent. Fortunately, the cover suggests thriller vs. humor as well, so readers shouldn’t be confused once they see the cover and read the blurb. 

I enjoyed the romantic parts thoroughly. The main couple was most likable…usually. Miriam would sometimes get her hackles up but Gus was rock solid.

The underlying story is that Miriam’s ex-husband, a crooked cop is sentenced to serve time, and has sent her a picture that puts her life in danger because it contains documents between the painting and the backing that could destroy the Capano mafia family. While this is pretty obvious from the early on, her ex doesn’t admit it until mid-book.

Eventually, Miriam and Gus remove the backing and discover dairy pages that could blow the crime families of Philadelphia apart, only to discover a gun aimed at them. Shadowman’s assistant takes the papers and leaves. Only one sheet has fallen to the floor and is not seen by the fellow. Once the thug has gone, Miriam finds the page and whatever is on it is worthy of killing her to get it back.

Thus to keep her safe, the FBI tries to protect her, first at her house, then in a safe house. And what is better than sex to get your mind off troubles?

(Yes, there are fun times here.)

Still Miriam is trying to grow a business and not thrilled to be cloistered indefinitely. And the lady has attitude. So naturally, when she gets word her mom is ill, she sneaks off. 

When she reaches Montana, and discovers her mom’s just fine, she never once thinks, “Crap, I’ve been lured out in the open so someone can kill me.”

And thus for me, the story weakened in ‘plausibility’, given her total lack of concern. Had she no knowledge her life might be in danger, perhaps she might pass if off as a weird prank, but when a person is being protected so no one CAN shoot them, concern that they’d just been tricked out of protection should be the first thought they have upon discovering Mom is alive and well. 

I’ll leave what happens next a mystery, other than to say the story does not disappoint on the HEA but someone important does get shot.

Overall, I thought this a delightful book. But due to the implausible reaction when she discovers her mother is feeling fine, I have to knock it down to a 4 star. Still, it’s a fun and fabulous read and if you love romance with your suspense, you should thoroughly enjoy it.

 AMAZON

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two sons, one dog and three rabbits.  She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. When she isn’t writing, she works for a local winery. Her books are filled with romance, suspense and thrills.


Links:

http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/chrisreddingauthor

www.twitter.com/chrisredding

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