Smart Bitches Trashy Books | All of the romance, none of the bullshit.

Y halo thar, I can haz free book plz?

I have never been much interested in racing, but I’ve been watching a lot recently because my son loves it.  I wonder if there’s a market for Dakar Rally romance?

There’s only so much historical/werewolf and fantasy romance a body can take. I’ve got to say though that if you’re happy to have two female protagonists in your plot there’s some pretty good lesbian romance out there. ‘Sequestered Hearts’ is one that springs to mind for me.

(Totally jonesing for a good book here, too.)

but never once would she wish for some knight on a stallion or some stallion at night to come sweep her out of her life. She loves her life. But sweeping her off her feet for hot sex? That’s another story. She’s on board for that. Me, too.

Me, too, too.

Great review. I wanna read this one.
I am so over para-normal. Give me normal.
Please.

You guys write such good reviews.  It would never occur to me to read a Nascar story but this has me convinced to give it a try!

Me, I wanna read this, too. Please.

There’s a lot of assumptions made about NASCAR fans and the folks who participate in the sport, particularly as far as class and intellect are concerned, and many of those assumptions are plain looneytunes.

Ya think? So the fact that number 88 permanently resides in my truck windows doesn’t make me a totally unedumacated redneck?
I am looking forward to a good NASCAR story. This will definately be on my go buy it list and soon.

I wish I had a website to post this on. Will it work on Facebook or MySpace? And if so, how? Technically challanged here. Now give me my toolbox and I am happy. Like the toolshed I put up yesterday.

Oh, damn, there’s that redneck thing again.

I thought you said he was a handful of years younger than her?? this is more like a couple of handfuls and feetfulls too!

spamword-lay36. I wish

I didn’t see anything that said otherwise, so I assume you’re happy to send it to Australia if I win?

It sounds like a great story, anyway, and I do like variety in my reading so I’m on board for not letting the contemporary romance die out. I like paranormals but I wouldn’t want them to be my only option.

Huh.  I don’t generally like NASCAR, but this sounds interesting enough for me to overcome my anti-racing sensibilities.

Indiana= Corn & NASCAR

I have always liked Erin McCarthy’s writing, since I came back to the world of romance reading after a hiatus. And yes, thank goodness for a book wihtout supernatural/paranormal stuff: I think I am close to baked on the attractions of vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, and aliens—and let’s face it: the genre is getting too familiar (or anemic?) compared to the early stuff.

My DH works for a NASCAR team owner. I haven’t been able to bring myself to read any of the stories for one of the reason you mention here. There is a lot of misconception about not only those who participate but the intelligence level of the fan as well. I’ve been around this sport for 25 years and it’s a rare occurrence to find a real ‘dumb redneck’. Most fans might be guilty of rabid fandom over a particular driver, doesn’t mean they have no brain.

If the story itself can overcome the stereotypical fan representation, then I think I’ll have to give this one a try.

Ya’ll do know, right, that us dumb rednecks find it real hard to read though, right?

(jab intenteded) ;)

Oh, I’ve been wanting a good contemporary.  Me please!

Thirty two is MIDDLE AGED? Sarah! Say it ain’t so!

(spam word: since31)

Count me in please!

Diana Peterfreund said on…
10.20.08 at 03:31 AM |
Thirty two is MIDDLE AGED? Sarah! Say it ain’t so!

LOL! It’s all relative I guess.

Elec? See, it’s not the Nascar theme that would stop me at the blurb but the name of the hero.

But I do like Erin McCarthy’s writing, including her vamps and demons so I would read this based on her paranormals… and I think it’s that diversity is what makes the romance reader’s world go round.

Oooh… it’s not one of the Harlequin series of Nascar romances!  This could be interesting!  I shall add it to the ‘to be acquired’ list.

*points to her orange #20 slippers* 

We like Nascar up here in Canada too!

Want book. Please.

I guess here’s a good time to, uh, woman-up and say that I’m ready and willing to learn more about the NASCAR culture.  Although I (hope I) don’t perpetuate erroneous stereotypes I certainly haven’t been one to be first in learning more.  If I can read this book to start on the path to my own personal NASCAR healing and save the world at the same time, so much the better. 

Will try to widget my blog tonight.  I am usually woefully inept at that kind of stuff but try I will.

I can haz competition entry? :)

Ooh, this sounds *fun*.

Want.

Plz.

Not sure this one will make it over the pond any other way, so maybe you’ll end up helping out one of your European readers?

spamword “hard99”

I also lament the lack of great contemporary romances as I am not a particular lover of the paranormals that seem so popular right now.

Being an Aussie living in Scotland I must confess to knowing absolutely nothing about Nascar. And romance protagonists behaving like adults - taking responsibility for their own lives and actions - hell yes!

As much as I like Erin McCarthy’s writing I doubt I would have read this book without your recomendation. I live in “Race City USA” NC so it’s really hard for me to get away from all things NASCAR.  It’s not my favorite sport so I don’t look for MORE of it in my life! But this sounds very good so please put my name in the hat.

Oh it sounds like a great book.

And my spam word: distance61. Guess I’m going the distance (or I have already since I’m way past middle aged if middle age is 32).

No death of the contemporary please!  ....and not just because I have accidentally found myself writing one.  :P And because I like well-crafted characters, I comment.

Count me in for the giveaway.

BTW—your review’s just great.  Makes me wanna go read it now.  :)

No vampires, werewolves, or shapeshifters? Oh my!

Sign me up, please!

I’d love the book!

I’d also love to spread the word, but am unfortunately technically as well as blogistically challenged -as in, don’t have one. :-(

Definitely sounds worth a look!

I hope contemporaries aren’t going to die just as I’ve finally raised my head above the regency parapit (is that an oxymoron or merely a really mixed metaphor?).

So may I please be entered for the loot?  Ta muchly.

I find it scary that you and Jane think the contemporary is in jeopardy.  But contemporaries have definitely been seeming worn out lately. I take that as a sign that we need a new paradigm in what is considered the classic straight relationship between a man and a woman. I can’t imagine what it will be. But I can’t wait to see it.

Meanwhile, this book does sound interesting for its honesty in the relationship. But NASCAR? Sigh.

Oooh, sounds great!  Sign me up!

ROFLMAO—32 is NOT middle aged!  Says who?

I miss, miss, miss good contemporary romance!  YESSSS!  Thank you Sarah and Jane!

I’ve never really been that into contemporary novels, but your post has made me think again about the genre. And FOS sounds really interesting.

Hey, I’m 24, and I’ll tell 32 ain’t middle aged!

Also, put me in for wanting a copy. Commenting, commenting…

I love Erin McCarthy. Well, the 2 books that I’ve read which were You Don’t Know Jack and A Date With the Other Side and I’ve been eager to read more of her books but my library only had those 2. So, you know, I’d appreciate a free book.

I love Erin McCarthy, I love Contemporaries, and I love NASCAR! Hooray Jimmie Johnson! Pick me, Pick me!

So true about the difficulty finding a contemporary that doesn’t have were-somethings in it. I like the idea of urban romance but how many demon spawned heros/heroines can you have? Hope I win the book or I may just have to go out and buy it.

Erin McCarthy is great!  Count me in.

Having lived below I-10 for most of my life, I’ve definitely been inundated with NASCAR culture, and not always in a good way. :)

Your review, however, definitely makes me want to read this book. I love when the characters are strong, sexy and the heroine doesn’t need or want to be rescued!

I enjoy paranormals, but everyone needs a break now and then. How many brooding, nightwalking, bloodsucking creatures can there be??

Thanks for putting me in the hat!

Free book—new to me author, great combo.  :-)

The book sounds great.

I love contemporary romance and am always looking for a new author to try. Thanks!

One of my friends who knows I read romances bought me a NASCAR romance as a joke, and was shocked when I told him I couldn’t put it down. I’m not into racing and never thought much about it, but the situations in that book really pulled me in. Based on your description, this one sounds even better! And I could really use some brain candy right now.

32 is a mere babe in arms. I think I deserve a free book for being made to feel downright elderly.

Can I just say how damn refreshing it is to read a thoughtful, informative, SCINTILLATING review of what sounds like a great book?  I mean, all the reviews HERE are thoughtful, but I am so sick of people discounting any juicy book as being anything other than fluff.  Yeah, I know, old news, old comments…..........I just had an encounter with someone from my mother’s group book club who was all up in my face about the genre.  Like every book I am supposed to read is supposed to tie my ass up in knots thinking about “my purpose” or “my message” or my fat thighs and gray hair.  GIVE ME A BREAK!  I ended the conversation by asking her if she watches anything other than PBS, CNN or the History Channel.  When she said yes I could tell she doesn’t get it.  People, it’s ENTERTAINMENT!  Sheesh!

OK - going to get coffee now - WAY too grumpy….......

Well, I picked up Power Play based on your recommendation, so I’ll add this one to my list of books to check out. I’ll agree that the straight contemporary seems to be waning in popularity, but I also think, like historicals, it’s not really going to die. I remember hearing SEP speak once about how she was told she could never sell a book with a rock or sports star as the hero or heroine and then she sold It Had to Be You and that spawned a whole series of books. I seem to be seeing a lot of contemporary books in the last 5-6 years where the hero or heroine is involved in sports. I wonder if that’s going to be part of the evolution of contemporaries like changes in time period seem to have helped historicals.

I’m not big into Nascar as a rule, but the Smart Bitches have piqued my interest with their awesome review.  A free copy would just be icing on the cake!

As a relatively fanatic Formula 1 fan, I can appreciate NASCAR even if I don’t enjoy it as much. I had no idea that it was seen negatively over there (I’m British). This book sounds great. I’ve had many “Come on, no one speaks like that!” moments recently, and am a little tired of reading about adults who behave like children… but I must thank you for reviewing Caught Running, which I’ve just read and enjoyed hugely for the maturity of the characters and the sweetness of the story. A great contemporary!

I read one other NASCAR novel and it was awful. This one sounds a lot more promising. Maybe I won’t miss Regency England so much…

Love Erin Mccarthy!  The Pregnancy Test was one of the funniest contemporaries I have read in a long time.  Love her and glad to see her back to straight contemporary. But not a fan of NASCAR..

Please enter me in the drawing.

LOL at Marsha’s comment - she should win a book just for her comment. :)

Straight contemporary with not-stupid dialogue is my favorite. And Erin McCarthy would be a new author for me.

YES!  Save the contemporary! I love to read modern day heroines overcoming the same time of cr*p I face in real life.  Are sales of contemporaries falling because no one’s buying them or because they’re just not available in the stores any more?  Chicken or egg?

As someone who writes contemporaries (though unpublished), I will help to save them. And, well, a nice book giveaway would be good, too.

Sweet! I’m in! :D

I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a contemporary, but have never read one! So maybe I should read a couple of good ones, before I mangle the genre.

Count me in for the free book drawing.  But just in case I don’t win, please try to get this book out for the Kindle.

Throw me in the lot! And as an author of contemp romance I sure HOPE for the sake of my career that the genre still has a strong heartbeat! I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy a good para but a steady diet gets a little tiresome.

Saving the world is my destiny! (It’s possible I have watched too much Heros).

Sarah, I think if you are in the midst of young-motherhood, as we are, you feel middle aged. It might have something to do with hearing things like “Mommy! Every time I fart, poop comes out of my bum!!!”

Yeah, last week was a tough week.

That said… AWESOME CAMPAIGN!!!! Ha! You chicks are wonderful.

While a piece of my brain went TILT at the hero’s name (my knee-jerk reactions at reading it were 1) “Wow, that’s really… metrosexual”, and 2) a stray “Electra Woman and Dyna Girl” memory)  I love Erin McCarthy’s work.  And even though I write paranormal, I love to have my palate cleansed occasionally by some straight-up contemporary.

I already commented, so don’t count this.

Victoria, were you living in my house this week?! Except instead of poop, my daughter learned if you fart against the sliding glass door, the window fogs up a little. Add a toddler giggles to it, and you get hilarity instead of grossness.

And eye-strain from rolling your eyes so much.

This is great-I’m not a fan of paranormal romance in general, and I love contemporary! Can’t wait to read this book-I’ll definitely have to look it up!

Thanks to the Smart Bitches and Dear Author crowds I’ve started reading contemporaries. This one looks like fun!  Please, may I have a copy?

What, no vampire crew chief or werewolf tire changer? 

This sounds great.  I am thoroughly tired of paranormals, and I love NASCAR.  I love books where the lead characters are adults, and behave like it.

Yummy! I’m in!

I’m always up for a good contemporary—and I have to admit, NASCAR culture probably would be a very interesting backdrop, now that I think about it. Sounds awesome, I’ll have to add it to my list, :)

Contemporaries are on the wane?  Read British authors: paranormal romance doesn’t get a look-in here.  I just glanced at my shelves and there are too many contemp. romances to mention.

I confess to scepticism about NASCAR (and why is it in capitals?  does it stand for something?) although I did enjoy Janet Evanovich’s Alex Barnaby books.  I’m just nonplussed: at least F1 and rally driving have, you know, corners.

Finally! I’ve missed McCarthy’s contemporaries so much! I’m glad she’s back.

Ha, all the “contemporaries” on my TBR shelf are from the 90s and 80s, from glomming backlists of authors, so I’m in no immediate danger of suffering if they go extinct.  I’ll second what many others have said, I would never have normally picked up a NASCAR romance, but this sounds awesome. 

BTW, if anyone wants another older woman, younger man story that is just amazing, I highly recommend Family Blessings by LaVyrle Spencer.  Heroine is dealing with the unexpected death of her son and tries to deny the attraction and growing feelings she has for his best friend as she copes.

You must be right about the genre dying because I’m just now learning of it and I’m mad that it’s dying upon my discovery. I hope your campaign works and it rises again! I’m going to launch into a full-scale reading effort to see what I’ve been missing. Thanks so much!

I love Erin McCarthy, and I’ve been waiting for one of her contemporaries! So excited about the possibility of a free book.

I love contemporaries and I’ll read pretty much anything Erin McCarthy writes. I’m also waiting for Crusie.

Okay, I will be the first person to admit that I am a Nascar snob. The fact that its a bunch of people making a left turn over and over and over again is a little boring to me. But the history of the sport is fascinating. And this book sounds even more so.

I am a little sad to see the contemporary phase out. But, even so, trends go in cycles. Eventually the market will choke on all these paranormal, and we’ll be back to traditional people and traditional stories. 

I’m going to keep my eyes open for this one and snag it when I see it!

NASCAR stands for National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It all started with rum runners during the prohibition trying to get away from the law. My great granddad used to be a rum runner, he has some great stories about the early days after the repealed the law.

Since this site and DA opened my eyes to the wonder of contemporary romance, I’d love to take a ride with Flat Out Sexy book. Count me in, please.

I had serious NASCAR prejudice until I found out my boss was a NASCAR fan.  This is man is required to wear a suit to work every day (in fact, knowing the LA state police, it may be in the gaming rules and regulations that he must) - and if my white-collar well-educated boss likes NASCAR it can’t all be rednecks now can it?

I can understand it as a participation sport - but I still don’t get it as a spectator.

I have all of Erin McCarthy’s books . . . love, love, love her!!

:o)

I’m ready for the paranormal novels to die a short and unhappy death.  Some authors are inventive, but I now feel like I’m reading the same story 10 times all by different authors.

What’s scary is that my DH predicted two years ago that NASCAR romances and mysteries would be the next big thing.  I should have listened. Count me in for the book here. And if I can figure out how to put the widgets on my blog other than sticking them in a post, I’ll email so I can get in on the other part.

This is a great idea, ya’ll!

okay… so I admit I am really new to romance in general… but I already have noticed the difficulty in finding a true honest to god romance… without some out of this world creature…. granted, I enjoy those, but I prefer to read about people I can relate to.
I am glad Erin is releasing another… she has become one of my favs!!!

Count me in!!!

I do pretty much read anything put in front of me, but I really kinda like the Nascar romances, in part because it’s a culture that surrounded us growing up, but never overlapped with my interests, so I’ve never understood why people watch it, and also because in the ones I’ve read so far there have been total infodumps of explanation of the physics of driving that I can totally see these being used to teach nascar wives enough of the technical detail that they can impress their spouse. :) 

That said, i also once ran a poll on my livejournal about the best crossover paranormal nascar romance plot points:  http://tanaise.livejournal.com/833507.html

I don’t read a lot of contemporary romances (I was a fan of paranormals before they became the new thing, and I’m loving all the options I have now), but this review has definitely intrigued me.  And I never turn down a free book.  ;)

I haven’t read a contemporary, let alone a good one, in recent memory.  I also haven’t read any Erin McCarthy.  Would love to give her a try!

I love contemporaries and great ones are getting hard to find so sign me up, please.  Thx!

Your review sounded so good, I requested it from the library before I finished the article :)

Flat Out Sexy is such a fun read! Erin McCarthy is always one author I can count on for writing great contemporaries.
Defintely will post about this :D

I’m not a big Nascar fan (cars are not my cup o’ tea, unless they’re you know, actually getting me somewhere), but your excellent review has me ready to give this one a chance! As far as spreading the word, I’ve been thinking about starting a new blog, and this is def incentive to get going on that!

I love contemporary romance, whether it’s reading it or writing it.  It sounds like Erin has a winner here;  I’m definitely going to buy it after reading this review!

Count me in, please! Between this review and DA’s, I now really want to read this. :)

Fun, count me in!

YAYYYY—enter me, please! I adore Erin’s books (and she’s such a sweetie).

Yes, please.

Coming out of lurkdom (spelling?) to post for a giveaway - yay thanks!  Appreciate the chanceto win a great read.

I already had Flat Out Sexy on my wish list and thanks to your review I know that if I don’t win I NEED to go pick it up and read it asap.

Please enter me!

I’ve never read a NASCAR but I’d love give it a try….

Oooh, I want I want I want this book!! If I don’t win, I’m pestering Borders for a copy asap!

Sounds awesome. I’d like to read this one!

I love Erin’s contemporaries—I didn’t realize she had a NASCAR story out!  Yay!

I am really looking forward to this book. I love Erin McCarthy’s contemporaries!

Add me to the list of people looking forward to this book, please!

I will have to check this out - I loved McCarthy’s older Bravas, but didn’t follow her into paranormalandia.  I WISH the contemporary market would come back as a reader and a writer. Nowadays I wait for the tiny droplets of SEP, Rachel Gibson, Christie Ridgway, and Lisa Kleypas to give me tiny bits of contemporary sustenance.

ME WANT FREE BOOK NOM NOM NOM

P.S. I think I should get bonus points for the overwhelming amount of geekery in my comment.

Free books: always good.

*Gasp* free books *nearly faints* Thats like a dream come true *dramatic grin*

Free books, free books, wheeee!!

Actually, I might look for this one to help with my long travel that is up coming.  Sounds like a winner!

I love, love, love NASCAR, having returned to watching the races this season after a 20 year lapse. The men are MUCH hotter these days, and I squeed like a little fan girl when “my” driver finished 6th yesterday! I’ve tried a few of the NASCAR novels and not thought much of them, but this one sounds great! I would love a freebie!!

Should29—heh, should I wake up tomorrow magically aged 29 again, I’d definitely be looking for NASCAR love

For Cat Marsters, who asked why NASCAR is capitalized:  because it is the acronym for the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racers.  Or something like that.

A free book & a contest?  Score!  :)

I can’t wait for this book!!!

I like contemporaries and have read quite a few this year. I think it’s because I wanted a change from paranormal. :)

I love contemporary novels, and I read them all the time.  I don’t understand why they are fading in popularity. 

I have never read a NASCAR contemporary, however, but your review has changed my mind.

I love paranormals but I also highly enjoy a well-crafted contemporary.  This looks GREAT!!!!

Valerie
bookaholic and proud of it!!

Count me in the contest.  I like my romances minus the vampires, werewolves, etc!!!!  This looks like a great read.

I remember erin mccarthy won the first writting contest on lori fosters website i read her entry and loved it and because of that ive been reading her books!

I’m all for saving contemporaries.

I’m not sick of werewolves and vamps yet, but I’m still all for a good contemporary!

I love Erin McCarthy’s books and contemporaries…I’d love to enter!

Count me in- I’ve never read Erin McCarthy, but your review makes me want to.

I love car racing(esp. drag racing) and would love this book.
I believe we have to do something to keep Contemps from dying out and disappearing if we can.  I love Contemporaries and am not in paranormal.

I’ve always found books involving subjects I wouldn’t otherwise be interested in oddly enjoyable. Football, for example. This sounds like one of those books. Great review, by the way. I miss contemporaries. I’ll have to check this out.

OMG I love Erin McCarthy, I stumbled upon her by accident at the library, and fell in love. I will so have to go get her other series. I dont read many contemporaries, but I will for sure, check this one out.

Thanks for another great referral.

This book sounds awesome! I am such a sucker for the NASCAR romances, even though I don’t follow the sport AT ALL. I would love to get this for free, but I’ll totally buy it if I don’t.

The sprout is all posted on my blog too!

This sounds like a great book. Would love to win it.

I definitely want to read this one. Sounds like my kinda book.

I started out reading contemporary romance in my early teen years and always put contemporary romance on top of my most loved reading genres. Really good contemps are so hard to find, though. Although I do enjoy paranormals, the stores seem flooded with them, imo.

Erin McCarthy rocks and I can’t wait to read Flat Out Sexy. It’s been a long time since I read a really hot, well-written contemp!

Got the sprout posted on Facebook—and feeling quite techno-savvy (no matter how illusory that feeling may be).

My two cents on paranormals; they’ve become trite and cliched. It has become a lazy sub-genre where the few originals are being drowned out by a sea of cookie cutter protagonists. Yuck. I’ll keep on looking, but have learned to translate the cover copy to avoid disappointment.

Finding a gem has become more difficult, but more satisfying for that. There are times when a brooding hunk o’ supernatural mantitty is the perfect counterpoint to a crappy week.*grin*

My dad raced in NASCAR in the 1970s. I spent time in the pits as a child, so it’s a world I’m familiar with. At least in its older incarnation. There’s something magical about the throaty roar of stock car racing engines revving in the dew-dropped dawn of a West Virginia morning…

OMG, I LOVE Erin’s writing!! My bookseller recommended ‘Houston’ years ago, and I have thanked her for it since. I laughed my way through it and many others! I sure am looking forward to reading Flat Out Sexy!!

Oh! and NASCAR is an acronym for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. To second jmc and let Cat Marsters know.

I had to look it up. My tingly geek sense was, uh, tingling.

Would never have picked this up if you hadn’t recommended it.

Oh, I am firmly middle-aged, have a full-time job, full-time kids and full-time husband.  I would be fine if someone stepped in and handled any one of those.  My husband is down with it, too.  He has always dreamed of being a kept man.

Oh Man,

I don’t have a blog.  I’d like to try the book though.

Sam

I want to read it too!!

Sounds great, sign me up! :)

The book sounds great! I read some of Erin’s contempories and they are a lot of fun. She has a great voice! I still remember her entry for the Lori Foster Brava contest, it was my favorite that year.

I love Erin. I look forward to reading this

Having a few scary family members very much into NASCAR (family motto: God, guns, and NASCAR!!!), I’m not so hep on the topic - especially for escapism. However, I love Erin McCarthy’s paranormals, and I’d give this one a try since it reviewed so well. Count me in on the book drawing. I’ll give it a shot even if I don’t win a copy.

I love Erin’s contemps. Sooooo glad to see another contemporary from her.

Huh.  I don’t typically read romances, just the reviews, and partly for their educational value - I learned a lot about NASCAR from that one, for instance. So I’m interested in reading the book now!

Sounds good, this one is going straight onto my library list.

Oh I cannot wait. I’ve been dying to read this book too.
I added the widget.

Oh and I mentioned this contest on my site.

I love this contest. I have missed many of Erin McCarthy’s books.

Sounds good to me. I once met the late Dale Earnhardt in his gasoline alley pit.

LOL, the first thing I saw about this post was the number of comments (I was scrolling up from the poll).  I said, “Oh look, over 100 comments, must be a contest.”  Yep, sure ‘nuff.

One of my first Nora Roberts books was a racing romance—IndyCar, not NASCAR, though.  It was in a double volume re-release with a romance about tennis players, both solid contemporary romances without a lot of suspense/crime/evil people.

Okay, looked it up—Rules of Play is the re-release, and the racing story is Opposites Attract (okay, not a super-original title, but the story was good).  I agree that it seems there used to be a lot more contemporary romances, without mystery and suspense plots.  Not that I mind a good romantic suspense novel, especially La Nora’s!  But I will be putting this one on my list, for when I need a break from crime.  And I think this is a great idea, promoting the contemporary!

I love Erin McCarthy’s books! :)

Let’s hear it for contemporary non-paranormal romance! Woo-hoo!

I love and miss contemporaries, and Erin is one of the best! Her contemporaries are some of my favorites and I really wish she’d write more and I’m VERY excited about this book. I’ve got it on pre-order at Amazon :) I am glad that someone has noticed the real lack of regular contemporaries out there!! I have a harder and harder time finding them…and my favorite contemporary authors are all busy writing their paranormals instead of their regular contemporaries, which is well and good but keep writing your regular stuff too! Erin, please please write the regular contemporaries as well as the paranomals b/c I really love your stuff! :) I just don’t get into the paranormals and the historicals only do it for so long until I need my fix ;) Thanks ladies for bringin our plight to the attention of publishers everywhere!
Heidi in TX

Ah… I love me some good dialog… you guys REALLY make me wish I had more time to read!!!

I probably would have avoided this book because of the NASCAR setting but now i will hunt it down, :D

Where is everyone getting 32 for her age in the book? I am confused. She says in the widget excerpt that “she slept with a man half her age” and he is almost 26. ::snigger:: that is something a 6 year old would say isn’t it??

I always said that I would never read a NASCAR bookm but then when I read what you wrote about it beeing a “greatly misunderstood but very interesting culture” and “I wonder if there are any book genres like that” and I was like, “Shit!  I’m a hippocrite”.  This review also made me view NASCAR as horse racing of the future/present (I mainly stick with historicals and Regencies, but I like the modern horse books like Nora Roberts’ Irish Thoroughbred).  Thanks for the good review and a new outlook on NASCAR.

and to really enjoy and appreciate NASCAR you need to go to one instead of trying it on TV first. There is a whole nother feeling to them. The adrenaline is amazing!!

Great review!  Count me in!

Sign me up for the contest, please!  Another contemporary fan who is sorely in need of some reading material.

sounds freaking hilarious. count me in for the draw.

I love nascar so this book sounds like it rocks.  nasar and romance cant beat that.  sign me up.  lol

Sounds like a great book. Enter me to win it! :o)

I recently read my first Erin McCarthy and really enjoyed it - please put my name in for the drawing..

I would totally read a NASCAR romance with a paranormal character.

In glorious bitchery karma, I am at BN and will be picking up some of her other titles.  NASCAR does nothing for me but I have read at least one title of hers and forget to look for her.

Off to the stacks…

OMG, I love NASCAR so I will hint to my BFF to buy me this for my birthday present. My fiance is actually a huge NASCAR fan too. He bought me a gorgeous diamond engagement ring from http://www.idonowidont.com and popped the question to me by placing the ring inside a matchbox racecar and had me open the door and pull out diamond ring!This was over the roaring of the racecars! It was pretty cute. I will have to read this book once my bFF buys it for me, haha. Thanks!

I could use a free book.  I could use a free NEW book, which would be seriously lovely.  I hope I win!

-April

Sign me up I want a free book, I love contemporary!!

What is this nonsense about contemp romance dying? That is all I read!

Count me in for the contest.

FREE BOOK!

Please enter me in the draw.  I love both contemporaries and Erin McCarthy’s writing.

Never thought I would be interested in a NASCAR book but this one sounds too good to miss. My only questions is, will it help me understand the lure of going round and round and round 400 or 500 times?

I have not read a book by Erin McCarthy book yet. This sounds like a great one to start with. I would love to win this book. I love contemporary romances.

I enjoy Erin’s writing, and would enjoy reading “Flat-Out Sexy.”

I’m not a fan of watching NASCAR, but not because of class assumptions.  Actually, I’d love to go see a race live, but on TV it does nothing for me.  The technology and atmosphere behind the races, though, is fascinating.  I did enjoy Janet Evanovich’s NASCAR books (Metro Girl and Motor Mouth), and would love to read this book.

Death of the contemporary romance? Not on my watch!

Leah Braemel said on…

YES!  Save the contemporary! I love to read modern day heroines overcoming the same time of cr*p I face in real life.  Are sales of contemporaries falling because no one’s buying them or because they’re just not available in the stores any more?  Chicken or egg?

See now that’s why I DON’T like contemporary very much.  I’m reading to escape—I don’t want to read about my own problems!  However, I have read some very good cont. (usually based on recs, thanks SBs!) and it would be a shame to see the genre go the way of the dinosaur.

Oooh, me! I actually like races. But not the Confederate flag at the track. That ought to go.

Put me down for the free book drawing! This sounds cute!

This sounds like a good book.  I love contemporaries and it’s so hard to find good ones.

OK the bulge in his pants on the cover has me laughing hysterically and wondering what happened to the poor pet gerbil.

On another note I’ve been needing some stress relieving novels so maybe it’s time to refresh the romance selection on my shelves!

I’m so glad Flat Out Sexy got a good review.  I’ve been a fan of Erin McCarthy and her books for years now and can’t wait to read this new one by her.  Contemporary is my favorite sub-genre, and I certainly don’t want it to die.

for once I’m not a day late and a dollar short for a free givaway!

I heart free books, and Erin McCarthy’s are always fun times!

Count me in, even though it looks like my chances are slim to none.  LOL

Deidre

I’ve only read one book by Erin McCarthy, Fallen, and I adored it. her characters are so real and the dynamics between them are so true to life.  Hopefully this book is equally good.

freeeee book please! :)

I lurrrrrve Erin McCarthy! The first book of hers I read was “Houston We Have A Problem”. Such fun!

The book sounds great, so I hope I win!

Viva la contemporary!

Diane

I would love to win this book - sounds like a fun read!

I can’t say I’m over paranormals since I write them…but I’d be willing to give a contemporary novel a shot. :) I don’t think I’ve ever read one.

Sign me up!

Contemporaries rock!  So does Erin McCarthy!

Ooh, sounds like fun! I’d love to win a copy, as I doubt my library system will buy this. And if my library doesn’t order it, I don’t read it.

Hi Sarah,

You Ladies have done a great thing with a book that sounds fantastic!!!

Thank you,
Susan
sbussey AT windstream.net

This sounds like a great book, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for it as soon as I get some time for “fun” reading again.

Hello!  I like contemporary romance, today I am very sick, and I can rarely afford to buy books, so it would be very exciting if I got a free one!!  Thank you!

I love Erin McCarthy books and contemporary romances.  I agree that they are getting harder to find especially good ones.

I love your review and can’t wait to get this book.

OMG I love that cover.  Fantastic cover.  :-)

I love Erin McCarthy’s books. Love em like a fat kid loves cakes :) I’m excited about this book and can’t wait to read it. Also so excited about all the great reviews :)

I’ll admit that I have some preconceived notions about NASCAR, but I do have an open mind about it.  And I LOVE that this is a straight up contemporary with no stupid contrivances.  Hook me up, bitches!

I’m so glad that Erin is releasing another contemp.  I love her books and can’t wait to read this one since I also love car racing!

Ooooooh, I want one!

This book must be “vintage”.....ha!
Please enter me,
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

You know, I’ve never read a contemporary, so thus it would be best if I got a copy of the book so I knew why they were so worthy of being saved.  ;)

I felt a little ashamed of myself for all the dumb stuff I’ve said about NASCAR in the past, given how heatedly I defend the romance genre….good point, SBs!

I’ve read a couple of NASCAR romances. My husband spotted them on the rack and tossed them at me. I laughed at the idea of a NASCAR Romance, but they weren’t bad at all.

As far as NASCAR goes, my husband is from Arkansas and while he is not a big fan of it, he does enjoy watching it. His dad is a big fan and his sister and her husband actually own a NASCAR memorabilia shop. They used to sell stuff on ebay too. They are HUGE fans. My nine year old loves it, my six year old could take it or leave it. I’ll watch it if everyone else is and I’ll get into it, but I don’t actively set out ot watch it. Kind of like the Discovery Channel.

such a hot cover, love erin;s books, love them cant wait for this one. sucha great contest. i love contemps read teh most only congrats on teh book erin. thanks ladies

gl everyone

Commenting super-quickly, to beat the deadline! Whee!

(also, I do rather wonder if the origins of the feud will form part of subsequent volumes… if this is a series, it would make sense to not reveal everything all at once…)

JD

I love Erin McCarthy and I love contemporary romance..so, please count me in.

This book sounds like something I’d love, I’m defininitely going to check it out.

Sounds interesting.  I don’t know when I last read a straight up contemporary romance.

Sounds like a good one.  Count me in.

Yeah, way too many vampires and werewolves in books these days!!
But is 32 really “middle-aged”?! Maybe in the world of romance novels…
(& I realize this post makes me sound like I’m 80! “You whippersnappers with your paranormal romances… in my day, Regency romances were contemporary! & we had to walk barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways, just to buy them!” I’m really not even middle-aged by romance novel standards!)

I have no place to sprout, alas, but I have too agree with the sentiment. I have to search high and low to find a full length contemp that isn’t trying to be slapstick or doesn’t have a cops and robbers/murder mystery/spy subplot. I want contemporaries that focus on relationships, damnit!

I know that Toni Blake isn’t a favorite with many of the big names in the romance blogosphere, but I was crazy happy about her last two releases precisely for those reasons. That plus her characters had adult conversations about their relationships and her heroines were sexually expeirenced. As well, they actually seemed to have knowledge of the bar/party/singles scene of todays world, and I find that rare. Lots of contemp heroines seem unlike the chicks I know that are single.

I am glad that McCarthy is veering out of the paranormal again, although my favorite of hers, Heiress for Hire did have a ghost.

Hi, Sounds like a great book.  Please put me in the draw for the competition!

I have to say I haven’t read a contemporary for a loooong time…I figured if I was going to read something with silly dialogue (and while there are exceptions, that covers most of contemporary romances I’ve ever met) I might as well read something with silly dialogue AND time travelling werewolf/vampire demigods.
May have to try a normal one again…

Sometimes I just want to read about a normal human being. I’m all for reading contemporary books.