Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Flirtasaurus" by Erin Mallon

I am delighted to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Erin Mallon's debut novel, "Flirtasaurus," book #1 of the Natural History series. I've been anxious to get my hands on this book ever since I first read the synopsis because it sounded so funny, plus I love books that feature women in the sciences. I'm happy to report that it was even better than I had hoped it would be. As soon as I finished the first chapter, I could tell that I was going to adore this book, and my love only grew from there. The story grabbed my attention and kept me laughing from the very first page. I ended up reading the whole thing in a single afternoon because I just couldn't put it down!

Main characters Calliope and Ralph were quirky, funny, snarky, and endearingly awkward, and their back-and-forth banter was absolutely hysterical. I loved each and every one of their conversations, but I think the one about methane emissions from dinosaurs and cows was my favorite because it was just so random. The two of them were obviously made for each other, and I found it very easy to cheer them on to their HEA. The book's secondary characters were also a tremendous amount of fun and added a lot of depth and humor to the narrative, especially Calliope's co-worker Mabel (aka The Bug Lady), elderly museum patron Otto, and Calliope's best friend Sasha.

Overall, I can't recommend "Flirtasaurus" highly enough for anyone who enjoys lighthearted contemporary romance and/or romantic comedy. I'm certain that "Flirtasaurus" will find a place on my "favorite books of 2020" list, and I can't wait to see what Erin Mallon writes next.

*ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

About "Flirtasaurus"

Flirtasaurus, an all-new quirky and fun, laugh-out-out romantic comedy from debut author Erin Mallon is available now!

My name is Calliope and "I bone for a living." Kidding. I am studying to be a paleontologist though. It's the only thing I've ever wanted to be, and I have finally landed the perfect museum internship to make all of my dino-loving dreams come true.

Trouble is, everyone wants me to be a gentle, loving sort of creature, but I'm more of the T-Rex type by nature - the kind who is determined to stomp and tear her way through any obstacle in order to get what she wants.

But when a sexy, rumbly-voiced astronomer plummets into my orbit and threatens to break open my hard little heart, my career and my whole way of looking at the world is suddenly on the line.

The dinosaurs didn't see their asteroid coming.

And I sure as hell wasn't prepared for mine.

Read an Excerpt from "Flirtasaurus"

“I literally have no idea what you’re—”

“Your asteroid friends killed my dinos!” I say with a bit too much force, I’m guessing. Yup, my buzz can now officially be promoted to drunk.

“Ohhhhhhhhhh. Okay. Yeah, I guess that’s… Wait. You’re mad at me for that?”

“Maybe.”

“Huh.”

He takes a moment to consider his response. And then he shocks the hell out of me.

“What else can I say to you then, other than… I am incredibly sorry, Calliope?”

“You’re what?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t think a guy has ever said that to me before.”

“What. That he’s sorry?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow.”

“It’s pretty… um. Well, it’s… it’s kind of. It’s really sexy behavior.”

“Oh. Well, in that case… let me take it a step further then. I, Ralph Anderson, take full and complete responsibility for the death of your dinos.”

“Shut up, dude,” I say, laughing.

“No, no, really! Had I known that a massive asteroid would strike this planet and wipe out the creatures you so dearly love, and if I had the power to go back in time and stop it… I would.”

“Well, how in the hell would you have done that? That’s impossible. That’s—”

“Hey, Callie?”

“Yeah?”

“Go with me here, will ya? I’m letting myself be unscientific and non-literal for just a minute.”

“You called me Callie.”

“I did. Is… that okay?”

“Nobody really calls me that. But, yeah. It’s okay.”

“Cool,” he says with a smile. “So, Callie. I guess what I would have to do… You know, after I time traveled back a few millennia—”

“A few?”

“Alright, more than a few. I’d have to invent a rocket since they wouldn’t be invented just yet, shoot myself up to the heavens, then circle the Earth’s atmosphere until I could hitch a ride on that bastard ball of flaming rock dead set for your dinos. I would latch onto it with my brute strength and push that mammoth motherfucker off course until it found some other planet and some other life form to obliterate. Then I’d fall back to Earth like a feather, land back on a cozy couch with you and our pet, Troodon, since Troodon is obviously and by far the most precious dinosaur to ever walk the planet, and we’d watch Friends, drink Yoo-hoo, and laugh our asses off together until the day we died a peaceful non-apocalyptic death.”

This. Guy.

“Uggadah-uggadah. Woo!”

“What was that? Did you just do a little jig?”

“Of course not. I just had a-a, uh…. a charley horse situation.”

“Really? I thought those only happened when people were sleeping.”

“Oh no, they can happen anytime.”

“Huh.”

Truth? I was so turned on by him at that moment, I did a lusty little leg shake to get those warm and fuzzy feelings moving right back where they came from.

Full disclosure?

It didn’t work.

***