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Saint Lakes #13
The Trouble With Nerds
When the past collides with his dragon shifter fated mate, only one of them will win.
Henri’s doesn’t have friends. He has his clan, which is more like a family. And he has work colleagues at the college where he teaches but he’s better friends with the mouse who lives underneath his couch. He has a good reason for steering clear of people. He’s been burned before. It seems he's destined to always pay a price for trusting the wrong person. And that price might just be a deadly one.
Rocky is on a mission. First, he has to get his mate to talk to him. After he accomplishes that, he plans on earning his trust. And then they’ll get to the mating part. It has to be in that order because Rocky knows Henri’s secret. And that secret could change the fate for all paranormals.
How do you earn the trust of a nerdy turtle shifter when time is running out?
Rocky is just starting to figure that out when Henri’s past comes to Saint Lakes. He’ll protect his mate at all costs even if it means fighting a war he’s not sure they could win.
The Trouble with Nerds is the final book in the MM Paranormal Romance Saint Lakes series. It features the dragon shifter Alpha of his found family who will go to any lengths to protect his mate and an awkward scholarly turtle shifter who needs to learn to trust again. If you like mates with a size difference and a little snark thrown in, you’ll love this steamy romance.
Henri’s doesn’t have friends. He has his clan, which is more like a family. And he has work colleagues at the college where he teaches but he’s better friends with the mouse who lives underneath his couch. He has a good reason for steering clear of people. He’s been burned before. It seems he's destined to always pay a price for trusting the wrong person. And that price might just be a deadly one.
Rocky is on a mission. First, he has to get his mate to talk to him. After he accomplishes that, he plans on earning his trust. And then they’ll get to the mating part. It has to be in that order because Rocky knows Henri’s secret. And that secret could change the fate for all paranormals.
How do you earn the trust of a nerdy turtle shifter when time is running out?
Rocky is just starting to figure that out when Henri’s past comes to Saint Lakes. He’ll protect his mate at all costs even if it means fighting a war he’s not sure they could win.
The Trouble with Nerds is the final book in the MM Paranormal Romance Saint Lakes series. It features the dragon shifter Alpha of his found family who will go to any lengths to protect his mate and an awkward scholarly turtle shifter who needs to learn to trust again. If you like mates with a size difference and a little snark thrown in, you’ll love this steamy romance.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2024
67 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
April Kelley
116 books220 followersLiving in Southwest Michigan, April resides with her husband and two kids. She has been an avid reader for several years. Writing her first story at the age of ten, the characters in her head still won't stop telling their stories. If April isn't reading or writing she can be found outside playing with the animals or taking a long walk in the woods.
If you wish to contact her email authoraprilkelley@gmail.com.
Please visit her website at authoraprilkelley.com
If you wish to contact her email authoraprilkelley@gmail.com.
Please visit her website at authoraprilkelley.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 12, 2025
I read and reviewed all 13 books in bundles back to back, but I felt there were some comments for this last one that needed to be made.
1st, this is the last book. For the 1st 30% of it nothing happens but "whining and pinning" then lots of back to back sex scenes. The rest felt rushed, underdeveloped, and we don't even get to see all the couples or updates on them.
Lots of logic / reasoning issues in their discussions especially about battle plans. It was very convoluted and often circular. I'm not giving examples like I did for other issues below out of spoiler concerns. A kind of general example would be = A group of warriors go towards the safest place, with the most people to protect someone - when another equally important person is left in an unsafe place with just 1 bodyguard and one other person plus no magic help. Plus one other editing issue just from this book. It is stated the turtle shifter is hiding in a 7 car cavan, then it's later 1 car, then there are enough people coming at them like it's 7. Again, inconsistent and unclear.
This review covers all 13 books in the series. The only one that I felt might need a separate review was the last. I read them back to back through the purchase of 4 bundles. I would not have completed this series if they did not come bundled; mostly because there wasn't much that separated them from each other than different m/c's and progression through the story arc.
There are people who should not consider reading these books. Anyone even mildly sensitive to proofing and/or editing issues should avoid. There is not improvement as the books progress. Also, anyone that struggles to "go with the flow" when timelines are muddy to nonsensical should probably avoid. But for the laid back reader, who is looking for easy "brain candy" to pass the time - It's worth a look.
My comments while reading:
Transitions very choppy. Chapters or symbols not used consistently to denote a jump in time, POV, etc... This was very disruptuve to the reading flow and common throughout all the books.
Multiple editing and proofing issues often and throughout, from mild to severe:
Examples -
Minor ="because he kept tried to adopt" (100s like this.)
Moderate = "Tim saw the human before anyone else. He was in the pig barn... but it worked in their favor because Fane was in the rafters , watching. (The full context makes it even more obvious that if the human was already in the barn (as stated) Fane would see too if not 1st. At best, it's unclear. Plus, Tim's mission was to go find 2 others to get to his injured mate, not look for the human like it implied above. )
Just BAD = "...scrambled to find a way out of the shitstorm Jeff had just brought to his doorstep but he didn't know enough to see one about what was really happening to see one. " (No, I did not forget punctuation or mistype. I tripled check)
Just stupid = "And capturing Harold needs to be planned out. We can't make a mistake and have him reporting back to Harold." (No, there are not 2 characters named Harold.)
REALLY? THERE WAS AN EDITOR?
Timelines are the worst (amount of time elapsed was unclear or the implied lapse was not consistent from scene to scene.) At times, it is nonsensical, but often it's unclear to flat out Muddy.
With that said, I was able to go with it and just infer the author's intent. I enjoyed the stories and characters though none of it is fully developed (world, characters, etc...) . Just a few books in, and I was already forgetting who is paired with whom, but the author did a good job of keying my memory.
Fane and the kitten are about the only 2 things that were memorable immediately after finishing, so that doesn't bode well for anything sticking with me in a week much less a month.
A laid back reader, that enjoys this genre, and just wants to kill time is who should consider these books but in bundle form.
----------
1st, this is the last book. For the 1st 30% of it nothing happens but "whining and pinning" then lots of back to back sex scenes. The rest felt rushed, underdeveloped, and we don't even get to see all the couples or updates on them.
Lots of logic / reasoning issues in their discussions especially about battle plans. It was very convoluted and often circular. I'm not giving examples like I did for other issues below out of spoiler concerns. A kind of general example would be = A group of warriors go towards the safest place, with the most people to protect someone - when another equally important person is left in an unsafe place with just 1 bodyguard and one other person plus no magic help. Plus one other editing issue just from this book. It is stated the turtle shifter is hiding in a 7 car cavan, then it's later 1 car, then there are enough people coming at them like it's 7. Again, inconsistent and unclear.
This review covers all 13 books in the series. The only one that I felt might need a separate review was the last. I read them back to back through the purchase of 4 bundles. I would not have completed this series if they did not come bundled; mostly because there wasn't much that separated them from each other than different m/c's and progression through the story arc.
There are people who should not consider reading these books. Anyone even mildly sensitive to proofing and/or editing issues should avoid. There is not improvement as the books progress. Also, anyone that struggles to "go with the flow" when timelines are muddy to nonsensical should probably avoid. But for the laid back reader, who is looking for easy "brain candy" to pass the time - It's worth a look.
My comments while reading:
Transitions very choppy. Chapters or symbols not used consistently to denote a jump in time, POV, etc... This was very disruptuve to the reading flow and common throughout all the books.
Multiple editing and proofing issues often and throughout, from mild to severe:
Examples -
Minor ="because he kept tried to adopt" (100s like this.)
Moderate = "Tim saw the human before anyone else. He was in the pig barn... but it worked in their favor because Fane was in the rafters , watching. (The full context makes it even more obvious that if the human was already in the barn (as stated) Fane would see too if not 1st. At best, it's unclear. Plus, Tim's mission was to go find 2 others to get to his injured mate, not look for the human like it implied above. )
Just BAD = "...scrambled to find a way out of the shitstorm Jeff had just brought to his doorstep but he didn't know enough to see one about what was really happening to see one. " (No, I did not forget punctuation or mistype. I tripled check)
Just stupid = "And capturing Harold needs to be planned out. We can't make a mistake and have him reporting back to Harold." (No, there are not 2 characters named Harold.)
REALLY? THERE WAS AN EDITOR?
Timelines are the worst (amount of time elapsed was unclear or the implied lapse was not consistent from scene to scene.) At times, it is nonsensical, but often it's unclear to flat out Muddy.
With that said, I was able to go with it and just infer the author's intent. I enjoyed the stories and characters though none of it is fully developed (world, characters, etc...) . Just a few books in, and I was already forgetting who is paired with whom, but the author did a good job of keying my memory.
Fane and the kitten are about the only 2 things that were memorable immediately after finishing, so that doesn't bode well for anything sticking with me in a week much less a month.
A laid back reader, that enjoys this genre, and just wants to kill time is who should consider these books but in bundle form.
----------
August 12, 2024
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.5 hearts.
Henri is an introvert who prefers books to people, but Rocky is Henri’s fated mate, so what is stopping them from sealing the deal? A secret – that’s what. For Rocky to claim his mate, he must first gain his trust. Unfortunately, time and proceedings are conspiring against them. Events are on the move, and the fate of the whole paranormal community is at stake.
Never underestimate the power of reading books. This is one powerful message, and it’s the one I was left with after reading this super story. The Trouble With Nerds is the thirteenth, and last in the Saint Lakes series. After twelve of the thirteen books, I wanted a conclusion to the overall arc, and now that it’s here, as much as I looked forward to the drama – I will also miss the characters - especially Fane. On the plus side, a spinoff series featuring a certain MOB boss who will hopefully call on their services, is on the way.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Henri and Rocky. The world has developed with each new addition to the series. Seeing all the characters work together for the greater good was lovely.
Rocky and Henri are delightful shifters, and I adore their connection. Also, I loved Henri’s braveness and how his book smarts came in sooooooo useful. Henri isn’t a turtle that needs a dragon to protect him – that’s nice to have, and the person is more important than his shifter persona. Rocky has his time in the limelight, too, and he was every bit the dragon that was hoped for. Together, Rocky and Henri (well, the whole story) prove that the combination of brains, brawn, and proper nurturing make for a winning combination.
And, because I can’t think of anywhere else to do it – shoutout here to the mouse and cat serial killer lines – sheer brilliance.
Rocky and Henri’s journey to happiness takes up a hefty proportion of the book. I was glad that no corners were cut in this pursuit. But this is the final book, and after thirteen episodes, I wanted something epic to finish. The ending was good with some ‘oOOoohh, I like that’ bits. However, I’d have happily read a longer book for every shifter to have more of their moment. I know there is no ‘I’ in team, and the ending was a team effort, but after falling for the characters, a more extended goodbye would have been nice.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
Henri is an introvert who prefers books to people, but Rocky is Henri’s fated mate, so what is stopping them from sealing the deal? A secret – that’s what. For Rocky to claim his mate, he must first gain his trust. Unfortunately, time and proceedings are conspiring against them. Events are on the move, and the fate of the whole paranormal community is at stake.
Never underestimate the power of reading books. This is one powerful message, and it’s the one I was left with after reading this super story. The Trouble With Nerds is the thirteenth, and last in the Saint Lakes series. After twelve of the thirteen books, I wanted a conclusion to the overall arc, and now that it’s here, as much as I looked forward to the drama – I will also miss the characters - especially Fane. On the plus side, a spinoff series featuring a certain MOB boss who will hopefully call on their services, is on the way.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Henri and Rocky. The world has developed with each new addition to the series. Seeing all the characters work together for the greater good was lovely.
Rocky and Henri are delightful shifters, and I adore their connection. Also, I loved Henri’s braveness and how his book smarts came in sooooooo useful. Henri isn’t a turtle that needs a dragon to protect him – that’s nice to have, and the person is more important than his shifter persona. Rocky has his time in the limelight, too, and he was every bit the dragon that was hoped for. Together, Rocky and Henri (well, the whole story) prove that the combination of brains, brawn, and proper nurturing make for a winning combination.
And, because I can’t think of anywhere else to do it – shoutout here to the mouse and cat serial killer lines – sheer brilliance.
Rocky and Henri’s journey to happiness takes up a hefty proportion of the book. I was glad that no corners were cut in this pursuit. But this is the final book, and after thirteen episodes, I wanted something epic to finish. The ending was good with some ‘oOOoohh, I like that’ bits. However, I’d have happily read a longer book for every shifter to have more of their moment. I know there is no ‘I’ in team, and the ending was a team effort, but after falling for the characters, a more extended goodbye would have been nice.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
June 1, 2024
This is the final book in the Saint Lakes series and the first book of that series that I have read. I was able to enjoy it without having first read the earlier books. But I will warn you, once you read this book you will want to go back and read the entire series. This is the story of Rocky and Henri. Rocky is an alpha dragon shifter. He knows that Henri is his fated mate but he holds back. He knows that Henri doesn't trust easily and Rocky wants to win his trust and keep him safe. Henri is a turtle shifter and an avid book reader. Henri has not had much love in his life and he is overwhelmed by his found family. He keeps believing that it is too good to be true. When the problems arise, the entire town bands together to save one another. I loved this book. I enjoyed the characters and how we slowly see their personality come through. The love and care that Rocky shows Henri, finally breaks down all his walls. I was happy when they finally came together. This book is well written and easy to read. I choose it due to it having a turtle shifter and I was very happy I did. I look forward to reading the upcoming spin off series.
I received a complementary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a complementary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 2, 2024
The Somerset family gains a few new members in this last book of the Saint Lakes series. Although Sylvain might not agree with that. Dragon shifter Rocky finally gets his turtle shifter, Henri. With Henri's secret guilt revealed, there's no more barriers to their mating. And there is a lot of mating. The two steam up the pages, unable to keep their hands off each other.
There was a bit of angst. A lot of violence. But mostly, it's found family and learning to trust. A resolution to one of the dangers to the shifter towns. Great secondary characters. And a well earned HEA with the promise of another series set in this world.
I very much enjoyed this story, sorry to see the series end. But that just means one thing. A binging re-read of all the books.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my review.
There was a bit of angst. A lot of violence. But mostly, it's found family and learning to trust. A resolution to one of the dangers to the shifter towns. Great secondary characters. And a well earned HEA with the promise of another series set in this world.
I very much enjoyed this story, sorry to see the series end. But that just means one thing. A binging re-read of all the books.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my review.
May 18, 2024
Henri deserves so much more than he has been dealt in life but winding up in a Saint Lakes will give him a chance at happiness and redemption, even if he doesn’t really need that last one. He is so hard on himself. Rocky is the perfect mate for him. I felt a little lost reading this even though I have read most of this series before. I may need to do a reread. It is hard to comprehend their fight being over and Saint Lakes and Wingspan having a bit of peace for a change. These characters though…I love them so much.
May 27, 2024
The Trouble With Nerds is the 13th and final book in the Saint Lakes series. I am thankful that there is a spinoff series because I wasn't ready to leave. This book is best read as part of the series and read in order. This is the story of Rocky the alpha dragon shifter and Henri the nerdy omega turtle shifter. I loved this book and watching these two figure everything out. We get a bit of everything in this book and I loved it all. I can't wait for the spinoff to start. I would definitely recommend this book and series. I truly enjoyed all of the stories in the series.
June 2, 2024
I liked the story between Rocky and Henri, the patience Rocky has and the way he waits for his mate were very alluring. Henri is sweet, innocent almost to the point of naivety, but at the same time is incredibly clever.
Once they got together there`s no stoping them as a couple, both go with everything to make their matebond work.
The overarching story with the aumented humans ends in this book and how the author finishes this and opens the door to a new series in this world but pararel to Saint Lakes is done very organically.
I enjoyed the book and the couple.
Once they got together there`s no stoping them as a couple, both go with everything to make their matebond work.
The overarching story with the aumented humans ends in this book and how the author finishes this and opens the door to a new series in this world but pararel to Saint Lakes is done very organically.
I enjoyed the book and the couple.
May 31, 2024
Final book
The Trouble With Nerds was my first book in this series. I picked it up because I was intrigued by the turtle shifter + dragon shifter. The animals they shift into isn’t a big part of the story but was still interesting.
This seemed like the final book in the series. I could still follow along even being unfamiliar with the story but would have got a lot more out of it had I read the others.
The Trouble With Nerds was my first book in this series. I picked it up because I was intrigued by the turtle shifter + dragon shifter. The animals they shift into isn’t a big part of the story but was still interesting.
This seemed like the final book in the series. I could still follow along even being unfamiliar with the story but would have got a lot more out of it had I read the others.
May 30, 2024
I could not have adored Henri more! He is trying to keep to himself, his books and his little mouse friend. He definitely trusted the wrong people in the past and he just cannot do it again. Rocky's patience with absolute dedication to making Henri feel loved and truly wanted was everything. Their connection was perfectly paced. Henri and Rocky were the perfect couple to close out this series.
June 3, 2024
Great ending to the series
Henri is a shy, sweet, wounded omega who's leery of everyone.
Experience has taught him that people just hurt you.
All he wants is to be left in peace with his books.
Rocky is a very protective Alpha who just wants to care for Henri and show him he's worthy of love.
Henri is a shy, sweet, wounded omega who's leery of everyone.
Experience has taught him that people just hurt you.
All he wants is to be left in peace with his books.
Rocky is a very protective Alpha who just wants to care for Henri and show him he's worthy of love.
June 12, 2024
For the final book in a series, it felt like it ended far too abruptly. We also didn't get to see our newly mated couple relax much at all during it. The other books in the series felt more balanced between the war going on and the romance. Anyway, I've liked the paranormal universe the author has been building, so I might read the spin-off series even though it's a mafia series.
May 16, 2024
This is the last book in the series and I’m so glad that there is a spinoff because I am not ready to leave this world. I absolutely loved this story and the storyline has been so fascinating. This was an excellent conclusion to an amazing series. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
May 30, 2024
What a great end to a terrific series. I loved how Henri and Rocky found their way to each other. The mouse was a really special tidbit. Henri's obsession with books was also very endearing. Rocky was the ideal pick for Henri. I really enjoyed this book, I highly recommend it.
January 2, 2025
I wanted the best for Henri... and it would appear that would be Rocky. I mean, yeah, Henri wants him, but... Oh, well, as long as Henri is happy, I guess I am happy!
It was hard to finish this book knowing it was the end of an era... but, it was totally worth it!
It was hard to finish this book knowing it was the end of an era... but, it was totally worth it!
June 13, 2024
good
This was a good book. Pretty scary in parts, and lots of death. Those three are terrifying, especially Peter. And I’m not sure how paranormal stayed a secret after all that.
This was a good book. Pretty scary in parts, and lots of death. Those three are terrifying, especially Peter. And I’m not sure how paranormal stayed a secret after all that.
December 1, 2024
Perfection
I found this series to be a favorite of mine . This book was a perfect ending to a deeply satisfying series . It was full of love , angst and drama til the very end .
I found this series to be a favorite of mine . This book was a perfect ending to a deeply satisfying series . It was full of love , angst and drama til the very end .
May 30, 2024
Great conclusion to the series! The tension between Rocky and Henri was built up perfectly: I was just sitting back waiting for those fireworks to explode.
Action packed conclusion with never a dull moment.
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
Action packed conclusion with never a dull moment.
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews