wickedregal's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn’t really feeling this book at the beginning. It was an extremely slow start, in my opinion. Three chapters in and I was bored wanting to put it down and find something else altogether to read. But I trudged on. I was going to give it until Chapter 5 to give me feels or I was out the door. Glad I waited, as I soon began to fall in step with Sue and her journey after she arrived back in Australia. Chapter 5 was the one that grabbed me, a little. There were a few tears shed when I was reading the talk between Sue and her mother. Favorite character within the book would have to be Moni. She was charming and flirty, but straightforward when she had to be. The overall story was nothing overly special but it was good, once it actually got going. I just prefer books that make me feel more invested emotion wise with the characters, and this one didn't quite fit the bill for me.
elvang's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Blue’s Bunya Bunya short story in Order Up: A Menu of Lesbian Romance and Erotica and looked forward to getting back to the Outback in Not-So-Straight Sue. I did not read the first book in the series but other than Nora and Ger being a solid couple and friends to Sue in London this book can be read as a standalone novel. I like Cheyenne Blue’s smooth writing style and find myself drawn to her storytelling skills.
I enjoyed this read for the most part but did have a few issues with the book. The early scenes in London seem rushed and confusing as I tried to work out what was going on in Sue’s brain. One minute she is doing the happy dance knowing she is going to be made a senior partner in her law firm and the next she feels out of synch, out of phase with her new friends and her new life. She heads back to ultra conservative Queensland and I wondered why she had left Yeringup in the first place if she missed her barren outback so much. A poignant scene in her home town pub answered most of my concerns and I settled in for Sue’s new life of adventure and romance.
Sue’s not-so-straight life includes a small town law practice, Ripper the puppy, a brief encounter with a ranch owner and a brand new relationship with Moni, a Texan she met briefly in London now working for the Royal Flying Doctors in Australia. I found it interesting that both women hailed from conservative states and pondered how special it was for them to end up together.I appreciated how challenging it was for Sue and Moni to find opportunities to meet thanks to work schedules and distance. Once again Cheyenne Blue captures the beauty of the Outback along with lurking dangers. One of those lurking dangers turned out to be the unfortunate decision to include Sue’s ex-girlfriend Denise as the catalyst for conflict between Sue and Moni. No amount of ‘splainin’ by Sue could fix her lousy decisions/indecisions regarding this woman. As conflict goes it was painful to read and my high opinion of Sue took a beating and never recovered. That said I liked what little we readers saw of Felix and look forward to the third book in this Girl Meet Girl series.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars for the authors spot on portrayal of life in the Outback of Australia.
ARC received with thanks from publisher for review.
I enjoyed this read for the most part but did have a few issues with the book. The early scenes in London seem rushed and confusing as I tried to work out what was going on in Sue’s brain. One minute she is doing the happy dance knowing she is going to be made a senior partner in her law firm and the next she feels out of synch, out of phase with her new friends and her new life. She heads back to ultra conservative Queensland and I wondered why she had left Yeringup in the first place if she missed her barren outback so much. A poignant scene in her home town pub answered most of my concerns and I settled in for Sue’s new life of adventure and romance.
Sue’s not-so-straight life includes a small town law practice, Ripper the puppy, a brief encounter with a ranch owner and a brand new relationship with Moni, a Texan she met briefly in London now working for the Royal Flying Doctors in Australia. I found it interesting that both women hailed from conservative states and pondered how special it was for them to end up together.I appreciated how challenging it was for Sue and Moni to find opportunities to meet thanks to work schedules and distance. Once again Cheyenne Blue captures the beauty of the Outback along with lurking dangers. One of those lurking dangers turned out to be the unfortunate decision to include Sue’s ex-girlfriend Denise as the catalyst for conflict between Sue and Moni. No amount of ‘splainin’ by Sue could fix her lousy decisions/indecisions regarding this woman. As conflict goes it was painful to read and my high opinion of Sue took a beating and never recovered. That said I liked what little we readers saw of Felix and look forward to the third book in this Girl Meet Girl series.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars for the authors spot on portrayal of life in the Outback of Australia.
ARC received with thanks from publisher for review.
theamandashelby's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't read the novella, Never Tied Nora and for that I am really sad. Cheyenne Blue did an excellent job of making this its own story, I actually had no idea it was book 2 in a series. This is the first book I have read by her but it will not be the last. I enjoyed this book from the very start. Once I started, I struggled I loved the story and the writing was very descriptive. I enjoy reading about places I have never been, and reading about Australia and Sue's new life she was starting. Some may find the heavy descriptive writing and information about the location a bit slow, but I just eat it up. I love this style of writing, and I really like it when I can visualize the setting. I am really looking forward to her next book.
ARC provided by YLVA Publishing for honest review.
ARC provided by YLVA Publishing for honest review.
jediroot's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy from Ylva Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
I really wish I could give this book a 4.5 stars, but I just don't give out full 5 unless the book becomes one of my favorites. This story is a light and very well written. I really like the writer's style and I just love reading about the details of the outback life in Australia. The Aussie slangs aren't that hard to figure out the meanings and I have the kindle dictionary to check out meanings behind some terms that I didn't understand. The main character, Sue is likeable and goes through self assessment as she realizes who she truly is. There is a strong romance between her and another character, but the whole story is written in Sue's POV so you learn about everything from her perspective. Only complaint I can think of is that there is not that much of conflict, only minor ones, but the writer is able to keep the story interesting with Sue figuring out her place, relationship, and adjustment so it's not really a big issue.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading the third book when it comes out!
I really wish I could give this book a 4.5 stars, but I just don't give out full 5 unless the book becomes one of my favorites. This story is a light and very well written. I really like the writer's style and I just love reading about the details of the outback life in Australia. The Aussie slangs aren't that hard to figure out the meanings and I have the kindle dictionary to check out meanings behind some terms that I didn't understand. The main character, Sue is likeable and goes through self assessment as she realizes who she truly is. There is a strong romance between her and another character, but the whole story is written in Sue's POV so you learn about everything from her perspective. Only complaint I can think of is that there is not that much of conflict, only minor ones, but the writer is able to keep the story interesting with Sue figuring out her place, relationship, and adjustment so it's not really a big issue.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading the third book when it comes out!
cdownes's review against another edition
3.0
Lawyer Sue Brent has travelled the path of many Australians and headed to London for work and play. She's quite successful in the motherland but she misses the red dirt and the outback so most of the book follows her return and re-establishing herself in a small country town.
The big thing is that she's never been out before, and she chooses the most unlikely of places to uncover that part of herself - outback Australia.
Moni, Texan doctor and a blast from her 'playing it straight' past turns up in the outback as well and the two of them develop their friendship with the hope of something more.
This book was quick. Too quick for me in how fast everything came together, another problem, another problem solved just as quick.
I would really liked to have seen Moni's character developed and discussed more. Sue's character was likeable as was almost all of the supporting cast.
The Australia landscape was romantically captured and I enjoyed that part of the book too.
The big thing is that she's never been out before, and she chooses the most unlikely of places to uncover that part of herself - outback Australia.
Moni, Texan doctor and a blast from her 'playing it straight' past turns up in the outback as well and the two of them develop their friendship with the hope of something more.
This book was quick. Too quick for me in how fast everything came together, another problem, another problem solved just as quick.
I would really liked to have seen Moni's character developed and discussed more. Sue's character was likeable as was almost all of the supporting cast.
The Australia landscape was romantically captured and I enjoyed that part of the book too.
wc4's review
4.0
This story makes my heart turn to mush. Sue, who was the side character in Never-tied Nora, has decided to go back home to rural Outback Australia. (One does not have to read the 1st book to understand this book, but I do prefer reading book series in order.) Anyway, I love that the main characters, Sue and Moni, know what they want and are not afraid to go after it. Okay, Sue had to do some soul-searching but she eventually got there. But both of them were brave enough to move across oceans in a bid to find what makes them happy. It's a well-written celebration of love - for each other and also for the rural life.
lezreviewbooks's review
4.0
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book by Cheyenne Blue that I've read. After reading Not so straight Sue I've realised that this is the second book of the series Girl meets girl. However, this book reads well as a stand alone romance.
The main characters are well rounded and multilayered thought I didn't find their chemistry very explosive. There were a few vacillations in the consumation of their relationship that in my opinion made the build-up weaker. The secondary characters were very supportive of the main plot and very lovable with the exception of Sue's ex.
I found this book a bit slow in its development. Maybe the author wanted to depict the landscape of outback Queensland, a small town where things move on a lazy pace. However, I found that this slow tempo worked intermittently. For example, I would have liked the author to keep the slow pace in the intimate scenes which I felt were a bit rushed considering the amount of build up. Having said this, I recommend that you take all my comments with a pinch of salt and give this book a try if only for the beautiful descriptions of outback Australia and its people lifestyle.
Overall, I give it 3.5 stars.
This is the first book by Cheyenne Blue that I've read. After reading Not so straight Sue I've realised that this is the second book of the series Girl meets girl. However, this book reads well as a stand alone romance.
The main characters are well rounded and multilayered thought I didn't find their chemistry very explosive. There were a few vacillations in the consumation of their relationship that in my opinion made the build-up weaker. The secondary characters were very supportive of the main plot and very lovable with the exception of Sue's ex.
I found this book a bit slow in its development. Maybe the author wanted to depict the landscape of outback Queensland, a small town where things move on a lazy pace. However, I found that this slow tempo worked intermittently. For example, I would have liked the author to keep the slow pace in the intimate scenes which I felt were a bit rushed considering the amount of build up. Having said this, I recommend that you take all my comments with a pinch of salt and give this book a try if only for the beautiful descriptions of outback Australia and its people lifestyle.
Overall, I give it 3.5 stars.
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