Talk of the Town

Glory NC #1

by Karen Hawkins

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Hawkins pens a delightfully sexy tale of modern love in a small Southern town.After years of being the perfect Southern lady, all newly divorced Roxie Treymayne ended up with was a cheating husband. So she goes bombshell blond, gets a provocatively placed tattoo, and prepares to live it up as a Bad Girl. But then her mother falls ill...and Roxie is forced to return to Glory, North Carolina.Once the town bad boy, Nick Sheppard is now Glory's highly respected sheriff. When the hot blonde he stops for speeding turns out to be formerly prim Homecoming Queen Roxanne Treymayne, Nick doesn't quite know where to look—though he'd like a much closer one at the tattoo peeking from her shorts.Roxie and Nick had a steamy fling in high school, but a love affair between a Southern princess and a boy from the wrong side of the tracks was doomed from the start. Now they have a second chance. Can they get it right? Or will they just end up...the talk of the town?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit, Adult, Small Town Romance

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2008

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. The Dove Pond books are a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible. To find out more about Karen, follow her at:
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Reviews

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Dec08

Karen Hawkins normally writes historical romance novels that I love to read. She’s one of my ‘must-buy’ authors, so when I saw that she had a contemporary romance coming out, I bribed Quinn into letting me be the one to read and review it! Hawkins’ trademark humor and witty dialogue are just as delightful in “Talk of the Town” as any of her historicals.

Roxie has had enough of being the good girl. It may have taken her the best part of her twenties and a nasty divorce, but she finally got the message—bad girls have more fun! So she dyes her hair blond, tattoos her butt, and gets a navel piercing to ‘celebrate’ the end of her marriage and intends to head for Paris as soon as she’s finished crying. Unfortunately for Roxie, her mother has an attack so Roxie is forced to delay Paris for a trip back to her hometown of Glory. On her way into town, she’s pulled over for speeding by her old boyfriend. My, my, my…she used to be the goody-two-shoes and he was the bad boy, but now it seems their roles are reversed. She’s looking for trouble, and he’s determined to avoid it…but he can’t avoid Roxie.

Nick knows everything about his town. Since moving back to Glory and becoming Sheriff, he’s made it his business to play by the rules and keep the peace. As soon as he sees the new Roxie, he knows trouble is bound to follow. She still affects him the way she always did, but he has no intention of allowing her to pull him off the straight and narrow. Apparently Roxie doesn’t intend to pull—she intends to yank…hard.

Hawkins did a great job of making this reunion and role reversal an entertaining read. I liked that her definition of a bad girl wasn’t too far out there. It was more a matter of Roxie throwing off the etiquette and social restraints she’d always lived with. And watching Roxie’s influence on Nick and his willingness to allow emotion back into his life was heartening, yet Hawkins still gave it a grand dose of humor. Some of the secondary characters had me laughing out loud, especially the older group (you’ll know ‘em if you read the book) with their C.S.I. antics. I could easily see this becoming a mystery-romance series without much tweaking and I’d certainly buy the books!

The Southern small-town atmosphere was the perfect backdrop for a story where everyone knows everybody else’s business and spends at least a portion of their day gossiping about it…if you’ve never lived in a small Southern town, I’ve gotta tell you that Hawkins hit it dead on with this story. There was humor, there was a pretty good mystery, there were plenty of clues and red herrings, there was an entertaining dog, and there was also plenty of hot sexual tension between the hero and heroine…and it all was done with a light hand to keep the story from becoming too ‘heavy’ or serious.

If “Talk of the Town” is how Karen Hawkins does contemporaries, then count me in. My only worry is that she may slow down writing her historicals, but it certainly wouldn’t be a hardship to ‘console’ myself with more contemporaries like this one.

[♡Karlyn P♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light fluff romance set in a small town with quirky characters. Some parts were cute, while others caused a bit of eye-rolling. I skimmed through the last half as the town crazy people try to solve an old mystery. I liked the hero well enough, and eventually warmed up to the heroine, but this book kept most of its characters as one-dimensional beings. I can't say if I'd recommend this one, and I wont be rushing out to buy any sequal to it (if there ever is one.) But I can imagine some people enjoying the light and silly tone to the story.

[willaful]

Started out with a promising, albeit unoriginal premise, but then developed into something resembling an episode of "Murder, She Wrote."

[Gwen (The Gwendolyn Reading Method) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, ok but kinda forgettable

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid romance with a small-town mystery.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxie Treymayne decided to celebrates her divorce with radical change. She bleached her hair blonde, had her navel pierced, and got a tattoo on her right ass cheek. But before she went to Paris, like she planned, her brother, Mark, came to tell her that their mother had heart attack. So, Roxie came back to Glory, North Carolina, with Mark to visit and take care of their mother. And guess who Roxie first met, when her red-hot ’68 Mustang went over the limit? Former bad boy Nick Sheppard, who was now Sherrif of Glory, whom Roxie had a relationship with for a brief four weeks of "mindless, all-absorbing passion" in high school.

....

I found this title when browsing "Readers Also Enjoyed" section at Goodreads, after finishing a story by Barbara Freethy. I was intrigued with the blurb. Second chance is one of my favorite tropes. So I decided to give it a try, even if I never read this author before.

Turned out that I made the right decision ... The story hooks me from the early chapter, chapter 3 to be exact, when I find out that the reason for Roxie's divorce is that her husband has an ummm, transvestite lover. I choked on that and then giggling like crazy.

Roxie is smart and loveable. While it is easy for Roxie as character to wallow in misery after the divorce, it is not the case. In fact, she is determined to throw cautions to the wind and channel the wild and reckless side of her.

Nick, on the other hand, is former bad boy gone good. Nick used to be a cop in Atlanta, but after helping Internal Affairs took down his own partner, Nick was ostracized by his fellow officers. I love how he tries to go by the book and calculate his moves on Roxie because he doesn't want to make the same mistake that his old partner make -- but ends up unable to fight their chemistry anyway :)

The rest of the secondary characters are HOOTS and I love everyone of them. From Mark, Roxie's big brother, who seems pragmatic but still charming. Then Tundy, Roxie's housekeeper, who steals every scene she is in. Susan, the sassy country dispatcher. And of course, the old folks group at Pine Hills Assisted Living Center, who named themselves Murder Mystery Club. They pine over Gil Grissom, watch CSI episodes and making havoc as they try to solve the "mystery" of the death of one of the residents at the Living Center. In fact, this mystery is one of the plots in the book, aside from the romance between Roxie and Nick.

I love the small town feels -- along with the fast grapevines of gossips and the wacky townspeople ... I definitely will pick up the sequel soon. It's Mark's story!!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Romance Junkies:
Discovering your husband has been cheating is a quick way to end a marriage. But catching him in the act with another man just adds a heck of a lot more fuel to the fire. Fed up with it all, Roxie Treymayne ditches her husband, after taking her fair share in court, and decides its high time she has some real fun. Being a good girl has got her nowhere in life. She gets a new look and is ready for a vacation when her brother drops in, announcing their mother has had a heart attack. That definitely puts the brakes on her plans, at least for a little while. Now, all she has to do is keep her divorce and all the horrid details from her mother. This is one visit home that is going to turn her world upside down.

Nick Sheppard, whom everyone thought would be in jail after high school, has turned cop. Out patrolling, Nick pulls over a red Mustang that speeds by. He walks up to the vehicle, routinely asking for license and registration, trying to keep his eyes off the smoking blonde in the driver's seat. When the sunglasses come off, he is stunned to see none other than Roxie Treymayne, the woman he had a short-lived, but passionate fling with. Suddenly feelings he has had to forget all rise to the surface. Nick wants nothing more to do with trouble so he sets out to avoid her, but how long will that last? Maybe this is fate's way of giving them a second chance.

I really enjoy Ms. Hawkin's writing. Whether contemporary or historical, she always hits the nail on the head. She knows her stuff and knows how to make characters relatable. Nick and Roxie's story was unforgettable from the very beginning. I am always a sucker for bad boys and Nick stole my heart from the minute he stopped Roxie. Roxie was no simpering miss, either. She was one tough lady, who just needed a little change and freedom to really become herself. I look forward to reading Ms. Hawkin's next book.

[Romance Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm flip-flopping between giving this three or two stars. While the characters are quirky, they are just a little too quirky. While the past history of the main characters is probably the most interesting part of their relationship, it is totally underdeveloped. And while the whole mini-mystery is entertaining, it wraps up a little too nicely just a little too quickly.

Somewhere among the bouncing-boob battle in the Shop-Co parking lot and the bong/still and the geriatric Murder Mystery Club and the crazy thinks-she's-big-town, small-town journalist, the plot kind of runs amuck. Plus, a successful accountant calling a community newspaper "a good investment" is a total joke, even if this book is a year old.

Okay, I just convinced myself this is a two-star book, but the writing was good enough that I might read something else by this same author.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always fascinated by writers who can move between the historical world and the contemporary with ease. Hawkins is one of those - you would never know, reading this, that she also writes Scottish historicals. A master of verbage (the black maid, Tundy, is a lesson on linguistics in and of herself) she deftly weaves comedy in with a decent 'whodunnit'. The senior citizens were a scream, my only wish is that the romance could have been a little deeper and involved more conflict.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, very light, romantic suspense. I liked the townspeople and the H/h although I would have liked a little more insight into their past history. That said it was a bit slow in the middle, and the suspense could be best described as geriatric scooby doo, but overall, it was a solid fun read.

[Ivanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can handle silly, but this just seemed stupid. Lost interest somewhere around the time two women had a bimbo contest in a parking lot.

[Lyndi W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly amusing and a little sexy with a small mystery. Definitely enjoyed it. The Murder Mystery Club is hilarious.

[lucia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 10%. Out of the blue transphobia and homophobia

[Aurian Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the fourth time I have read this book, and I still love it. It is so full of humor, and fun, and there is the sizzling hot attraction between Roxie and Nick.

After going through a nasty divorce from her cheating husband, Roxie wants to be a wild woman for a change. She used to be a good girl, a good daughter, and a good wife, and look at what that did for her. A husband who cheated on her with his law partner, Larry, who looks really ugly in a pink negligee! So, a new hairdo is in order, and Roxie is going blond! Of course a new wardrobe is necessary as well, gone with the Stepford Wives clothes, she will be a hot and sexy! But before Roxie can start her new adventurous life in Paris, or perhaps the Riviera, her brother Mark shows up. Their mother has had a minor heart attack, and they are needed back home. Roxie really does not look forward to that visit at all, her mother doesn’t know yet about the divorce, and she adored Brian. Mother will also want to arrange Roxie’s life for her again, starting with her hair and wardrobe, and Roxie will have nothing to do with that. As mother will need a nurse, and she has already chased some of the Doctor’s choices away, Roxie asks her maid / housekeeper Trundie to come along, at a big raise of course. Trundie will know how to deal with Mother ...

And so, in Roxie’s red Mustang, they all journey together to Glory, North Carolina. Where Glory is promptly pulled over for speeding... by Nick, the bad guy she had a short fling with in highschool. The bad boy has turned sheriff, who could have thought that? And he is still as handsome as ever, he sure fills out that uniform nicely! And Nick, he immediately recognizes Roxy, even in her blond bombshell disguise. A navel piercing and a hint of a tattoo above her shorts he can’t wait to explore further! But wait, he can’t afford to be distracted by a woman like Roxie ... especially after what happened in Atlanta...

When Mark and Roxie come home, their mother certainly is not happy with Roxie’s new looks, and she throws a tantrum, pretending to have fainted from the shock. But threatening her with some ice water sure does the trick of reviving her. Their mother’s life is devoted to charity, and she is involved in every committtee and ladies group in town, and so it is decided that Mark and Roxie will take over their mothers duties for now. With Mark taking the bulk of them, and Roxie the hardest one. Making sure that a group of elderly people of the nursing home get some fresh air and get out of their rooms every day. Rose, the leader of the group, and Clara, who is a great aunt to Nick, and CJ, an elderly man, have formed the Murder Mystery Club, and all they really want to do is sit around watching CSI reruns, and especially that handsome Gill Griffin ...

But where does Roxie finds a real mystery for them to investigate? Nothing ever happens in Glory, the only suspicious death was that of old Doyle, who was run over in front of the Pigly Wigly store. But the group jumps on the case, they still use Doyle’s old room at the nursery home for their club meetings. And for other recreative activities ... which might not be legal at all ... But Roxie doesn’t know that, and she enjoys being with the feisty oldsters. Until they find a box of black mail notes under Doyle’s bed, and there might be a motive for murder in it. When Nick gets wind of it, he confiscates the box, to the dismay of Roxie and his aunt, who really wanted to investigate the case. Surely it was not really murder, was it?

But when someone attacks Roxy in her own home, thinking she still has the box, Roxie and Nick will have to work together to find the one behind it all ... but can they resist the mutual attraction between them? And do they really want to?


So, in a nutshell, you have a sexy as hell Roxie, bent on having some fun, her maid Trundy, who came with her to Glory to look after her mother, who can be so nasty, no nurse wants to work for her. And that Trundy is a character apart! I loved her spunk, and how she made Roxie go out to her to a dive to have some fun! I keep hoping she will get her own book as well. Perhaps with the bankmanager? Roxies brother Mark, who has only a small part in this book, as the next one is his. The stupid Mayor and his bimbo secretary, the newspaper owner who might also have his eye on Roxie, and some old people who stir things up nicely.
Hell bent to get out of Glory, Roxie married Brian, an upcoming young lawyer, and became mrs. Brian, managing his house and his career, neglecting her own degree. But she certainly is not stupid. After catching him in the act, cheating on her, she is mad as hell. And after the divorce, where she cleaned him out nicely, she is intent on big changes in her life. To start with going blonde, getting a tattoo and a navel piercing! Next: Paris, or Italy, and some hot men. But when her mother gets sick she needs to get back home first. But that will only be for a short time, and there will always be Paris. She certainly is not looking for a new man in her life, but never could she have guessed she would run in her old boyfriend Nick, then the bad boy of town, now the respected town sheriff. Roxie doesn’t want to behave anymore, she wants some fun, so she goes after it, and that means Nick.


I love this book, and I will certainly read it again and again, it still makes me laugh out loud. For instance, when Tundy tells Mark about the things Roxie did when she found out about Brian. Or the showdown between Roxie and Robin, when they wore the same outfit. Nick sure had his tongue hanging out of his mouth then!
It is a delicious story, so if you want a good laugh, a good plot, and some hot sizzling attraction and a few lovescenes, you really should try this book.

If you like humor in your contemporary romance, you really need to read this book. I was not as delighted with the second book in the series as I am with this one. Anna Cade, I think you will love this one.

10 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Newly divorced Roxie heads back to her hometown of Glory, NC in her ‘68 Mustang. She is pulled over by Sheriff Nick, her old bad boy high school flame. There is a still lot of memories, history, lust and longing between Roxie and Nick despite small town gossip. They are now in their early 30’s and the word sexy and kissable is used constantly to describe them.

So basically, this is a light fluffy read, but I give it 1 more star for the added “mystery” in the assisted living facility which involves blackmail and a device used to make special bourbon. The added storyline of the geriatric murder mystery club and their antics gave the book a little substance and humor.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxie just got divorced and decides to embrace her inner bad girl (goes blond, tattoo, sexy clothes) but then her mother has health issues and she has to move back home to North Carolina to help her brother take care of her. There are so many funny things in this book - the Murder Mystery Club made up of senior citizens that keeps getting in trouble, Tundy, the confrontation between Roxie and Robin at the gas station (one of my all time favorite scenes), I can't wait to read (again) the next book in the series!

[Barbara Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much sexual angst…. Interesting plot but spoiled with the ridiculous inability to do your job without lusting after your high school sweetheart. Roxie deciding that with her divorce comes wearing trashy clothing and doing trashy things. I still haven’t figured out where the tattoo was being displayed. I read this because I liked another book by this author ! Basically don’t bother unless you like a more modern setting for a bodice ripping story

[Kiera Beddes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Newly divorced, former homecoming queen makes some big changes (dyed blonde, tattoo, and eye-catching clothes) and moves back home to the small town to help take care of her ill mother. She runs into the former town bad boy turned straight-laced sheriff. Add a aged murder mystery club and other small town personalities and you have a charming rekindled romance.

[Bethany D. Chappetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was cute. I’d probably give it a 3.75-4. I liked the side characters and the town and the little town mystery made it fun. It wasn’t overly steamy but the love story was cute. It was my first contemporary novel by Karen Hawkins and I would consider reading more - especially from this series.

[★¸. • * ° * ༺*Blanka*༺*°°*•.¸. ♥★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started off as being really funny with a pretty good storyline, but went downhill fast.
I think the author got to caught up in the senior citizens and the rest of the story crashed and burned.
This is not a book I will read again or recommend.

[Mellanie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story about Roxie Treymayne, determined to be a bad girl after a lifetime of being good. The inhabitants of Glory, North Carolina, were fun to read about, and I want to spend more time with them. I'm going to be looking for more from Karen Hawkins!

[Afiaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was a bit rushed but overall it was fun and predictable.

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Giant cliche.

[Jennifer Kiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, sassy, a solid read

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute! I enjoyed Roxie and Nick's story. It's a nice, sexy romance in a small town setting.

[Chandima Gunawardhana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and brief love story with some thrilling action. Everything is balanced in this book.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually pretty funny.

[Susan W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read.
Enjoying the trashy reads.

[Mo ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an absolutely cute cozy small town romance with endearing characters and a murder mystery. It was light and fluffy, everything I expected basically. And I totally enjoyed this. 🫶💓

[Gwen Susanek]

It was a cute book.