Review: The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl by Gina Lamm

This is the first book in the Geek Girls series and the first book I have read by Gina Lamm.  I am not normally one for historical romances.  It takes something special to have me traipsing back in time to the Victorian, or Edwardian, or hell, whenever Era.  Early on, I knew that pages upon pages of description of what the women (and men) were wearing and how often they changed clothes for each and every different activity of their day, did absolutely nothing for me. That said, this book title and description grabbed my attention.   Geek Girl!  An Avid Gamer!  Throw in time travel and a hunky guy? Okay, sign me up. :)

The book opens with Jamie Marten playing with her guild on her MMORG (Massive Multiplayer Online Roll-playing Game AND I didn't have to look up the acronym *GRIN*) We find out that she has recently broken up with her long time boyfriend Logan and is down in the dumps.  Jamie is a music writer and hasn't written a note since the break up. Her best friend Leah, makes Jamie go help out Leah's grandfather at his antique store to get her out of the house and functioning again. (Leah threatens Jaime's Comic Con tickets to get her motivated.)  Jamie is not looking forward to moving furniture, but figures maybe a part-time job will help get her back to a pre-Logan normal.

While working in the heat of a storage unit, Jamie finds a tall bureau, hidden in the back and covered with a sheet.  While she is admiring its rich mahogany, she trails her fingers along its lines.  Until she gets to the mirrored doors covering the upper portion - and her fingers sink into the glass.  She pulls and pulls and ends up being pulled into the glass.  And ends up in London England, 1816.  Her first reaction upon finding out when she is?  Vomiting on the Earl of Dunnington's boots.  Loved it!

This was a fun read.  For such a far out and improbable story, it felt true to life.  From trying to describe angry birds and how to make pizza, to complaining about the type and amount of clothing, to worrying about the lack of a real toothbrush and nothing to occupy her time, I could relate to Jaime.  Even when she was whining.  There were twists and turns, some predictable, other unexpected. It was a good read. I liked this book well enough that I will be looking for the next book in the series, Leah's story. I gave this one 4 stars on Goodreads.

THE STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER…

An avid gamer, Jamie Marten loves to escape into online adventure. But when she falls through an antique mirror into a lavish bedchamber—200 years in the past!—she realizes she may have escaped a little too far.

Micah Axelby, Earl of Dunnington, has just kicked one mistress out of his bed, and isn’t looking to fill it with another—least of all this sassy, nearly naked girl who claims to be from the future. Yet something about her is undeniably enticing…

Jamie and Micah are worlds apart. He’s a peer of the realm. She can barely make rent. She’s wi-fi. He’s horse-drawn. But soon the pair will do anything to avoid a Game Over.