Over at Smart Bitches and Dear Author, they have a campaign going called “Save the Contemporary, Save the World.” Basically, they are choosing contemporary romance novels, those without any paranormal or other sub genre elements, and featuring them on their websites. I don’t know how they pick which books they’re going to highlight, but they missed one, so I’m going to do my part and share with you all!
TALK OF THE TOWN by Karen Hawkins has already been gushed upon by Carly and Janelle, who read it last month before Karen was a guest blogger for our Saturday Writer’s series. I’d been waiting and waiting and waiting for Amazon to offer the book in Kindle format, but for some reason, they never did and when I was buying Barnes & Noble gift cards for my daughter’s teachers before Christmas, I couldn’t resist any longer and I bought a copy. (Remember…I’m trying to seriously cut down on the space I give to books in my house, so I’m trying to buy only on the Kindle.)
I’m so glad I bought this book! It was a hoot and a page-turner. Set in the small town of Glory, TALK OF THE TOWN is written with a light, but skillful hand. Karen Hawkins, if you don’t know her, is hilariously funny and her unique sense of humor sparkles on the page. The heroine, Roxie Treymayne, is a woman I can root for–a prim and proper Southern girl who has her world yanked out from under her when she catches her husband cheating on her with his law partner (a guy) and is called home to Glory after her demanding mother falls ill. Along with her housekeeper, the interminable Tundy, Roxie charges back into town a new woman–new haircut, new (sexier) clothes, new attitude. She wants to reinvent herself and she succeeds. She doesn’t give lip service to changing her life–she does it, balls to the wall. I love her!
And the hero…oh, let me wax poetic about the hero. Nick Sheppard was once the town’s baddest bad boy. He and Roxie had a four week affair that singed the faux leather interior of Nick’s Camaro (which he still owns!) but they broke up as teenagers are wont to do. He went off to Atlanta and became a cop while she went to Raleigh to become a Stepford wife. But in the midst of reinventing himself, he got caught up in an scandal that made him doubt a lot of what he believed about being a good man. He went back to Glory, determined to be the best sheriff the town has ever seen. But small town policing isn’t the same as big-city cop work and he has a lot to learn. He’s smart, he’s sexy and he’s…did I mention sexy? As in sex-on-a-stick sexy? Don’t get me wrong–he’s a capable cop. And what I love about this small town sheriff is how open he is to new ideas and perspectives. He gets the job done, even if its with a hot pink Taser. (I told you, this book is hilarious.) And when Roxie lends her perspective, they make a fabulous team.
TALK OF THE TOWN isn’t the kind of book you can read in an hour…weighing in at over 400 pages, it’s a meaty book that somehow never forgets to be light, funny and interesting. There aren’t spare words…every single one counts. The characters are fabulous, the setting intriguing and the writing unparalleled.
And because I loved this book immensely, but am holding fast to my promise not to clutter my office with books that I’ve read and adored, I’m giving my copy away to someone who puts a comment in today’s thread! Tell me what you love about contemporary romances and I’ll post the winner on Sunday.
On another note (and to explain why I might not be commenting myself too much today) my baby turns 11 tomorrow. Lots of things to do, as always. Yes, she’s a New Year’s Baby…no, I didn’t win anything for having her. She was born at 5 twenty something in the evening, but was still the best way to ring in a new year. Happy birthday to my baby!
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
Subscribe to Posts 
Comment
Early happy birthday to your beautiful daughter!
I saw the campaign and signed on. My small part in saving the contemporary was by reading Erin McCarthy’s “Flat-Out Sexy” (and it goes w/o saying, the Plotmonkeys’ books).
Since I am already shoulder-deep in books, please don’t enter me in the contest. I bought 2 last night, got another 2 in the mail, and have about 12 on their way. I need to stop!
Comment
I love contemporaries! Since they are happening “now” I can relate, and while I’m reading be transported to the situation the characters are in. It’s true bliss when I can lose myself in a story, and I can’t seem to do that unless I believe it’s possible (and since I don’t want to believe in vampires, books about them don’t work for me!) Thanks for the contest and Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter! 11 is a spectacular age. Debbie
Comment
Contemporiaries are realistic, current events that could happen. They can be lighthearted or suspenseful. They can take you to places, states, countries that you could visit personally …but due to tight finances …..might just have to explore through the author’s eyes.
The heroes & heroines can be powerful or ordinary. Roles can be switched and the characters can do the unexpected. The chemistry can be sizzling or just joking around fun! You can choose the degree of sexuality you want to be exposed to.
My favorite reasons for liking the contemps:
They’re believable.
I love the HEA!!!
They allow me to escape and dream!!
Comment
I love contemporaries and regularly bounce back and forth between contemps and historicals. I love that I can relate to the characters in contemps and easily put myself into their circumstances. I love the modern women who face the same daily obstacles and opportunities that I do.
Karen’s TALK OF THE TOWN is a terrific read. I laughed – a lot – while reading this book. Being from the same geographic area as the town in the book and knowing some real-life characters who are very similar to the club members made reading this book an even richer experience for me.
Comment
Hi and Happy new Year! :) I’d so love to win this book, haven’t been able to get it yet. :) And me, I love contemporaries — I alternate between reading a Regency and Contemporary when I read my romances. Just love both of them! :)
Lois
Comment
Early
to your beautiful daughter, Julie!
I too need to give away many of my books(8 bookshelves overflowing and always more books to buy), but I will have to take a week off from work to figure out which ones to give away. I got the Sony ereader for Christmas, so I do plan to start buying all my series romances for it to save room.
I would love to give Talk of the Town a try.
Comment
they don’t have the book up for the Sony ereader either. Which sucks since I would have taken it on the plane with me tomorrow.
Happy Birthday to your daughter also.
Comment
I can relate to contemporaries (even though I’m 60+). Happy New Year everyone!
Comment
I love contemporaries because a lot of them are humorous. Nothing like reading and just laughing out loud. Everyone in the house thinks I am nuts but who cares.
Comment
I love contemporaries! They are my favorite. I also am trying to buy only on my Kindle. There are too many books in my house. After that review though I think I will have to go pick up the book. It will be nice to go in a bookstore. I do miss that with the Kindle. No more bookstore runs.
Happy birthday to your daughter.
Happy New Year!
Comment
Ah, Julie, thank you so much for your kind words! You’re a peach!
I used to read historicals only, but when I began to write them, I needed a break after 8-10 hours of writing them, and began to read contemporaries — long ones, short ones, fast ones, suspenseful ones. Now I read every contemporary I can get my hands on — and this site represents the best of the genre.
I love contemporary romances! One of the greatest contemporary romance authors of all time was none other than Miss Jane Austen. So many people think of her as a regency author, when she wasn’t. She LIVED in the Regency era, and WROTE charming and lively contemporary romances. So, in writing contemporary romances myself, I’m merely following in her hallowed footsteps!
Comment
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR DAUGHTER!!
She is so adorable. She is the image of you, Julie.
I already have Talk of the Town so don’t put my name in the hat. I agree. The book is FABULOUS!!
I do love contemporaries because they generally transport me to a place on this planet that I’ve never been. So I get to go there vicariously through the characters.
However, I am a history freak! So I love to read historicals. I’m reading one now that Bernard Cornwell wrote with a partner back in the 80′s. It’s phenomenal. I’m loving every word.
Have a safe and happy new year’s eve everyone.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Comment
Aww how sweet, a New Years Baby! Happy Birthday to your daughter!!
I love contemporaries because they are usually funny, very romantic, and always leave me with a smile on my face. Talk of the Town sounds really good and I’d love to win this book. And the part about it being the type of book you could read in only an hour even though it’s 400 pages, sold me right there!
Comment
I’d love to win this book. I’m always looking for new reading material, and this one sound like a great read
Comment
Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to your daughter! I like contemporaries because I know what they are talking about, they are set in a world I know and they usually focus on the romance which is my favorite part of the book.
Comment
The reason why I love contemporaries is because they make me feel like I could be the herione. I may not have the exact life of the herione but I can do what they do, reinvent myself, find love, love myself and appreciate some of the things I be have forgotten about. They give me hope.
Comment
Please wish your daughter a very happy birthday!
I love contemporaries. I have never been able to get into stories that have vampires or magical powers. I’ve tried I guess I’m just missing that gene.
Hope everyone has a fun and safe new year.
Comment
I just had to post my good news!!
I just received a phone call that started off my new year with a stand-up-and-shout cheer!!!!!
My book, Something Old, Something New, Something Dead is a finalist in the single title category of the Emily contest sponsored by West Houston RWA!!!!
The finalists will be read by Terry Donovan at NAL!!!! And Elizabeth Pomada at the Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency.
And yes published authors were eligible to enter under certain requirements.
Cher
Comment
I love these books because each story has the ability to be unique. In historicals the story can be very worn because the writer is bound by being accurate to history. I love modern romance because I like the character dynamics of strong women and smart men- the books are more about the characters and less about location, rules and costume.
Comment
I enjoy many genres, but when I want the here and now, I pick up a great contemporary. I do not always want to read a historical or paranormal, so I go for a contemporary. So many great authors who create terrific contemporary reads…
CONGRATS CHER!
Happy New Year all… Be Safe and Enjoy!!! :flower4you:
Comment
I hope your daughter has a Happy Birthday tomorrow! The thing I love most about contemporary romances are the modern heroines. They are women I can relate to because they experience the same kind of things that I do. They often have the same problems that I have had.
Happy New Year!
Comment
Oh CHER!
You go, girl! 
tomorrow to Julie’s “Mini-Me”. She’s a cutie, Julie!
Contemporaries…I’m just now coming back to them after a VERY loooong absence. I’ve got “Talk of the Town” on my library list because 1) I’m out of bookshelves and I’m too cheap to by an eReader and 2) I’ve still got like 20 books in my TBR pile. :wallbanger
I have to admit, the Plot Monkeys are big reasons I’ve rediscovered the contemporary and enjoy them. FYI, I finished Julie’s “Phantom’s Touch” and Leslie’s “Heated Rush”. Dang, girls!
Both of you! Get these books and read them. Like NOW!
Have a safe and sane New Year’s Eve, all!
Comment
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!
Comment
CHER!!
Great way to end/start the year!!!
Comment
I read and ADORED this book. So glad you mentioned it here.
Comment
Karen- I love your historicals (and I am not a big reader of them, but there are certain authors I do like) so I am sure I will enjoy this one. I just have to get it. You need to nag them about getting it on the eread stuff!!
Comment
:happythanks OOps lets try again
and punch :tinitime:
party hats and :present1: presents
:trickboo now that is just silly
let me think!:scratch3:
it’s got
lots of friends and family
every sings and cheers
I think a :grouphug is in order
Happy 11th Birthday!
Zoey and jeannie
Comment
I actually read a lot of contemporaries. I love the humor and the true-to-life situations. I can relate to the heroines and the plots.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Comment
Julie,
Happy Birthday to your daughter! I enjoy the contempory romances since they are set in current times. I especially like paranormals that take place in the now. I hope you all have a wonderful time ringing in the New Year.
Comment
“Happy Birthday” to your sweet daughter!
Love the contemporary novel because it is conteporary! It’s present-day-as-we-currently-are-
living-it-at-this-time! I read books set in all time periods, but sometimes I just like to live in
the present!
Pat Cochran
Comment
Happy Birthday to your daughter! A lovely gift, 11 years ago, for the family for New Year’s.
I love Contemps, & hate that the genre (not the readers’ tastes) has fallen into disrepair. I’ll be on the lookout for Karen’s book.
As another suggestion, I discovered an excellent, new-to-me author, who’s Aussie (& the incoming President of RWA/AU), & love her writing so much, I’ve ordered her 3 “Modern Heat” books from Mills & Boon (similar to the Blazes), & had them shipped “to the States”. Her name is Kelly Hunter, & I can highly recommend one of her books, which has been picked up by HQ’s “Presents” line, & was released in 2/08. It’s entitled, BEDDED FOR DIAMONDS (originally entitled, PRICELESS, in the U.K.). The U.S. title isn’t really indicative of the story, which is about a jeweler, who makes her own creations by going to buy the jewels from Aussie mineowners. I found the mining info very unusual & interesting, but, the best thing about the book was that it is a wonderful, fun & “up” story, told with a great sense of humor. If you can find it, I’d highly recommend it.
Happy New Year to all the Plotmonkeys.
Patricia
Comment
Thank you for all the congrats!
In my excitement I meant to say it’s Kerry Donovan with NAL who will be reviewing my ms. :-))
Cher
Comment
TALK OF THE TOWN sounds amazing! :angelbanana Ooo…I would love to snag a copy of this fantastic book! :hug2:
As for birthdays, today is my birthday! My hubby and I are going to Red Lobster. My favorite restaurant! I am a big 48 today! I don’t feel a day over 40, haha! :happy2:
:jumpleaf Let’s all make the big leap into the New Year gracefully! :tinitime: :present1:
PLOTMONKEYS YOU
Comment
I love contemporary romances because they’re fun, and relatable (lol is that even a word?) but it’s nice to see familiar things, and also then have the author put new twists and turns in the plot. I like the realistic yet fictional elements.
Comment
Happy Birthday to your daughter and Happy New Years Eve to all the jungle.
Have a great time with her b-day as I know you always do. :)
Comment
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALYSSA!
Happy New Year to all my Plotmonkey friends!
Congratulations, Cher!
And whoever wants to save contemporaries rocks in my book!
Comment
TALK OF THE TOWN is one of my favorite books of 2008!
Comment
I enjoy reading contemporaries second to Paranormals which are my favorites!
Comment
Early
to your daughter Julie
I love loe love contemporaries too because a lot of them are funny. realistic, current events that could happen. They can be lighthearted or suspenseful.
I put Talk of The Town on my to BUY list just in case
Happy New Year
Comment
I love the humor that alot of contemporaries usually have. I can’t get enough comedy and romance!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Comment
Thank you, Carly, Silver and Ev for the congrats! :-))
Cher
Comment
Hey Jules, I wish your daughter a very Happy Birthday tomorrow…once again you are going to be busy planning for another celebration so it is understandable that you won’t be on too much today…
Don’t count me in for the drawing…I already have my copy of Talk of the Town…I fell in love with karen hawkins when she was a guest blogger…I loved what I read of it so far, but I had to put it down. I will read it sometime in the next couple of days though…have a wonderful day today…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment
Don’t count this towards the drawing I have already posted earlier.
I just stopped by to remind anyone who hasn’t already downloaded Leslie’s FREE book at Audible.com to hurry before it disappears.
I confess I enjoy a book more when I read it BUT I just spent
a lovely peaceful almost 2 hours lustening to “A Dead Guy in a Pear Tree”
and it is charmingly tender and sparkled with humor. I think you’ll enjoy
this free offering as much as I did. Me time is always nice when you can
catch it. Hugs Leslie, Thanks.
Comment
Talk of the Town sounds like a great read. I love books that make me laugh. Contemporaries are in danger?! To me that makes no sense at all! Most of the books I read are contemporary.
Congrats, Cher. Good Luck.
To all the Plotmonkeys: :monkey :monkey :monkey :monkey & all the Jungle Babes, have a Wonderful Year in 2009. I hope it brings health, joy and fun times. Lots of good books also!! :giggler
Comment
I can put myself into their circumstances and it’s like I”m living it
love the hea
an easy read
I love Contemporaries
Comment
I hate to think about contemporaries being shelved.
I ordered a copy of Jane Porters Mrs. Perfect and it is on its way to me as I write this.
The thing with contemporaries that I like is that you can really put yourself in the story.
You know I love rereading old contemporaries I have and you can tell how the world has changed in the past ten or twenty years. You know the internet, cell phones things that are happening now.
Comment
I love contemporaries because the stories are happening ‘now’.
Comment
happy new year everyone stay safe if you go out tonight!
Donna
Comment
Happy early birthday to your daughter and yay for you, Julie!
I do love contemporaries–I think as much as I love the escapism of romance in general and especially of different times/places, sometimes I like a story where I can more easily pretend that the heroine could be me. I guess it just lets me focus on the relationship developing. Anyway, contemporaries were what I started reading first, and probably still love the most.
Comment
I love contemporaries because you can relate to them. They focus on the here and now. It’s very easy to get involved in the plot and the characters. Happy New Year everyone!!
Comment
Wanted to wish you and your family a very safe and Happy New Year. Always looking for book recommendations… will most def. read Talk Of The Town.
Also would like to wish your daugher a very Happy 11th Birthday. My daughter just celebrated her 10th, and they are at such a fun age!
Comment
Happy Birthday to your daughter!!
I like contemporary romances, because it’s so easy to pretend it’s all happening to you. Who wouldn’t want some sweet gorgeous hunk falling for them. :wub:
Comment
I love contemporary romances because the things that are happening are relevant at the moment and they are just so much fun! This books sounds really fun!
Happy Birthday to your daughter! I hope that she has a wonderful day.
I hope that everyone had a Happy New Year!
Comment
i HAVE THIS BOOK ON MY TO BUY LIST. I ONLY READ CONTEMP BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE TO BE IN THE PRESENT AND NOT READ ABOUT THE PAST. THAT SOUNDS REALLY HORRIBLE, HUH. SORRY; BUT I REALLY DO ENJOY THE CONTEMPS – THERE ARE REALLY A LOT OF GREAT CONTEMP AUTHORS OUT THERE. THEY ARE REALLY VERY ENTERTAINING.
Comment
Sounds interesting. I’m a big fan of contemporary romances, so count me in.
Comment
My mom especially likes the books
Comment
Happy Birthday to your pretty daughter!!!! Oh to 11 again!!! NOT! Then I wouldn’t be able to read all those contem romance novels that are written by such talented gals!!! Count me in to get that book!!! Mickey