Straight Talk by Tera Lynn Childs

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Southern bell turned city girl shop owner, Bethany Lange knows a thing or two about gay men. She’s dated five of them.

On top of her failed romantic life, she’s trying to keep her SoHo boutique ahead of the creditors and on top of the trends. When an old friend offers her a consulting job on a new gay makeover show, she snatches up the golden opportunity faster than you can say, “Never wear stripes with paisley.”

Color her déjà blue when one of the cast members turns out to be her latest ex. Well, she doesn’t believe for a second that he’s gay. He’s a lying louse and she’s going to prove it, even if she has to stalk him to get the proof.

In the meantime, she’s battling a growing attraction to the show’s kitchen god, Chris, despite knowing beforehand that he’s gay. He’s sweet, sexy, and funny. The perfect guy. And things only gets worse when he joins in on the stalking. Long, late nights in the cramped quarters of her car are not exactly fostering emotional distance.

As the stalking and her attraction to Chris escalate, can Bethany prove to herself, once and for all, that she’s not the closet cleaner she fears she’s become? Can she stop falling for unavailable guys and find one that’s a lifetime keeper? Only time—and stalking—will tell.

If you have ever met Tera Lynn Childs you will understand when I say that Straight Talk is just as darling as its author.  We have met Tera twice before – once at a signing at The Magic Tree Bookstore in Oak Park, IL and more recently at the Romantic Times Conventions.  She is super fun and sweet.  And those are the exact words I would use to describe this book.  

Bethany is a fashion guru with a fledgling boutique in SoHo.  Although not thriving, her business is surviving…unlike her love life.  In that area she is doomed.  Four of her last five boyfriends have broken up with her because they are gay.  When an old friend offers her a dream job as fashion consultant for the new reality show, One Straight Guy at a Time (think Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), she doesn’t hesitate to grab the opportunity that will boost her business.  What she didn’t expect was to find ex-boyfriend #5 (the straight one) playing the gay interior designer.  She KNOWS he’s not gay and she is bound and determined to “in” him to the world.  On top of dealing with her current mission she is falling for a man that she already knows is gay - Chris, the gay chef on the show.  What follows is a series of mishaps that will leave you smiling and laughing.  Although you will figure out much sooner than Bethany what is going on you will still be surprised by the ending.  Swear to god, I didn’t see it coming.   

Seriously, this book was just plain fun and it would make an excellent movie.  Hint, Hint, Hollywood.  Get on it, will you?  While Reese Witherspoon is still young enough to play the lead?  See there, I already did some of the work for you.  If you are looking for additional casting help I am available and can be paid in books, boys and pie. 

Bethany was a loveable character.  More than a little clueless but still lovely.  Kit was a total tough cookie.  She was also what best friends are made of.  A good friend will give you a shoulder to cry on when your boyfriend breaks up with you.  A Kit will wholeheartedly help you stalk the boy that broke your heart.   

Then there are the boys in this book.  Love. Them. All.  We all know that I love the forever boy.  And every single male character in this book is a forever boy one way or another.  Even ex-boyfriend #5. 

You can probably tell that I loved this book.  It left me with a smile on my face and I think it would do the same for you. 

Straight Talk is one of Tera's self-published books and can be purchased at smashwords.com, bn.com, and amazon.com.

Nat