Not-So-Straight Sue

Girl Meets Girl #2

by Cheyenne Blue

“Sorry, I’m straight.” Those words, accompanied by a smile, were the ones Sue Brent used to turn down women. But the truth was buried so deep that even her best friend, Nora, didn’t know that Sue was queer. Sometimes, Sue even managed to convince herself. The only person in London who’d seen through her façade was Moni, an American tourist.

When a date with a friend’s brother goes disastrously wrong, Sue has to confront the truth about herself. Leaving London, she returns to Australia to take up the reins in an outback law practice. Back in the country of her birth, she is finally able to accept who she is, including facing Denise, the woman who burned her so badly years ago and set her on the path of pretence. But it’s not until Moni arrives in Queensland to work for the Flying Doctors that Sue is finally able to see a path to happiness. However, as things start to go her way, Denise arrives in Mungabilly Creek, begging a favour that might destroy Sue’s new relationship.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Lesbian Romance, Lesbian Fiction, Lesbian, Medical, Queer

278 pages, Paperback

First published October 19, 2016

About the author

G’day and welcome. I’m Cheyenne Blue. I write big-hearted sapphic romance with strong women, mainly set in Australia.

My fifteenth romance, Sometimes We Fly is out April 2025. A closeted celebrity, a furious neighbour, and a whole lot of sexual tension charge this late-in-life coming-out lesbian romance set in rural Sydney.

I hope you enjoy all of my sapphic romances featuring strong women finding love.

You can find out more about me on my website cheyenneblue.com, Facebook or on Twitter @Iamcheyenneblue

Reviews

[Pin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the novella Never-Tied Nora, but I liked the novel Not-So-Straight Sue even more. I am not sure, but I think that it is Cheyenne Blue's very first full length novel (86,600 words). And what a novel it is!
Not-So-Straight Sue is a very nice romance with two well-defined, believable and very engaging main characters, some great secondary characters (especially Mrs T and Ripper the Jack Russell terrier), solid storyline, and sweet love story which developed at a nice comfortable pace. The setting of Outback Queensland is really interesting and very well described.
The book reads pretty good as a standalone story, but with few intertwined characters and events from the first book in the series. For full comprehension, it is easier to read Never-Tied Nora first, but not mandatory. The author has nicely covered the previous events here.
I recommend this book, and am looking forward to the third book in the Girl Meets Girl series -- Fenced-In Felix.
4.5 stars, rounded up

*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in Blue’s Girl meets Girl series, and was just as enjoyable as the first. We get to know Sue a little in Never-Tied Nora, but in this book Sue is the star. These books are contained enough that you don’t have to read book 1 first. However, I’m a stickler for reading books in order so I always recommend it.

This book is not perfect, I had a few issues with it, but it made me feel happy. I honestly had a sh*t eating grin on my face for most of this book. I really like how Blue writes and I always seem to enjoy books that take place in Australia. The setting was excellent and I felt like I was there.

I enjoyed the romance quite a bit. The characters were friends first (off-screen) so that by the time the romance happens, you feel the connection already. The sex scenes were good and overall the romance just works. There was a scene that involved stripping and singing (I know that sounds odd) but it was sweet and intimate and one of my favorite parts of the book.

If you liked book one, chances are great you will enjoy this. If you are new to this series and are a romance fan, definitely give this series a chance. A new short staring the two mains in this book, comes out this month. I can’t wait to read it and see how Sue’s life is now. When this book ended I wanted more, and I’m happy I’m getting more.

[AnnMaree Of Oz]

DNF @ 54%. I think perhaps this author is just not for me, I've tried a few and they just don't ever seem to work. I think overall this is common lesfic fare that readers of the genre who enjoy the standard premise, would enjoy.

This story was odd in the sense that it deals with two women who 'sort of' already know each other before the book starts, as one had clocked the others "not-so straight" status when they had met briefly in London among other Queer friends. Once Sue decides to stop living her straight lie, Moni is delighted about it and basically uproots her life in Texas, to get a job not far away from Sue's newest position in outback Queensland.

They spend an awful amount of time talking about wanting a relationship with each other, and how they want to have sex with one another, and it often not working out because of their location and job commitments. Even talk about meeting the parents, and friends talking about how 'perfect' they will be together. But it all felt rushed, and like we completely missed the 'getting to know you' parts.

Moni is just perfect, says all the right things, super confident, goes after what she wants. Sue despite having lived her straight lie for years, has no trouble at all. Her past with regards to why she chose to hide her sexuality is saddening, of course. But none of it ever did feel as emotionally believable as I felt it should - which could entirely be a me problem.

I'm having a crap week after a really crap weekend, where I'm struggling. So I didn't continue this because I just didn't want ANOTHER thing to struggle with. I hope that makes sense.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Not-So-Straight Sue (Girl Meets Girl #2)” spends much of the book, and ten years of her life, as Not-So-Sensible Sue.

We met Sue as Nora’s straight best friend in “Never Tied Nora”, and when she met Nora’s near one-night-stand Moni their interaction (and kiss!) was very fun. In “Not-So-Straight Sue” we learn that Sue has been pretending to be straight; she’s known she’s attracted to girls but has been afraid to let anyone know after a bad experience getting caught with her girlfriend at 17yo.

Now, it makes sense that being a lesbian in a small Australian town would be difficult, if not terrifying. What just doesn’t make sense though is Sue continuing to try to be straight, and being afraid of coming out for ten years, even after moving to London, where her best friend is gay, and marries her girlfriend. Well, although I read for awhile in incredulity, Sue is very likable and I enjoyed her journey to becoming herself very much.

Her journey includes confronting people for their past actions, and moving forward with her life. Moving forward includes her recognition that big-city life as a big-firm lawyer isn’t what she wants. Cheyenne Blue’s descriptions of Australia, and the kind people Sue meets, are just fantastic.

I slouched in my camp chair, head tipped back, and looked up at those stars. In London, you were lucky to see even the occasional constellation. Here, the entire universe was spread out in front of us.

We are introduced to Felix, who is featured in the sequel, in a very interesting way! I’m often amazed at how often lesfic characters sleep around with each other, and then remain friends and discuss having slept with those friends with their new lovers.

The ex-girlfriend shows up in time to create some angst, but at least it’s not overdone. If Moni was a slightly more distrustful person things may not have worked out so well, but Moni is just terrific as she gives Sue space to get her head, and her heart, together.

There is no audiobook available for “Not-So-Straight Sue”, but Voice Dream has an Australian female voice that is really very good, and I enjoyed listening to it. 4.25* for a very enjoyable love story in a very enjoyable setting with very likable people!

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book from NetGalley and Ylva Publishing in return for a fair review.*

Sue Brent is a lawyer living in London. She's happy and excited, for she's just about to be promoted to Senior Associate (years before she thought she would be). She has some great friends, great job, and good solid life.

Two of her best friends are Nora and Ger, and since both are lesbians, Sue spends a good bit of time in lesbian bars. Where she gets hit upon, but her response is always 'Sorry-I'm-Straight'. A response she's been giving out for a long time now, since back in college days.

Sue isn't just someone who says that they are straight; she also goes on a lot of dates. And aggressively fucks men. So, obviously . . ..

Thoughts of dusty home in Australia keep popping up in Sue's mind, though, even while she's living the good life and enjoying her near promotion. Thoughts that cause her to, on something like a spur of the moment, quit her job and return home.

Sue's from a small conservative town in the Australian outback - quite a difference between it and London. But she feels this strong pull and so heads back (after setting things up in London to unwind her life there, and setting things up in Australia to start, or restart, a life there).

There's a twist, or secret, though, one that can be picked up by glancing at the title of the book. Though I assumed something that turned out to be wrong, but whatever (I was assuming 'bisexual', especially with all the sex with men. I was wrong.). A secret that turns out to be known, or guessed at by at least two of the people Sue meets in London, though not known by most. A secret that was almost a secret to herself. Though it was buried deep down in her. For you see - Sue isn't exactly as 'straight' as she always proclaims when hit on by lesbians.

One of Sue's former boyfriends, one who remained a friend after the break-up, mentions something to Sue before she heads back to Australia - something about freeing herself - and living her life (or maybe he just said something like 'I knew we weren't going to make a go of it, since I was the wrong gender for what you need for happiness'). Sue's thoughts swirl around this idea as she heads back to conservative small thinly populated outback steakhouse. I mean the Australian outback.

Into this mix are two people who have no points of view of their own (since Sue's the only one with a POV) - Felix the horse owner lesbian, and Moni the doctor from Dallas (and one of the only two who seemed to see the lesbian hidden in Sue while Sue was in London).

Felix is an older woman, lean and tough, and her story will be told in the third book in this series. Just like Nora and Ger’s story, the London friends, were told in the first book in this series.

Moni’s, of course, gets told in this book here, though, as noted, she doesn’t get to have a POV, so everything’s from Sue’s point of view.

I was gliding along, loosely connected to this story. There were some interesting aspects, wandering the Australian countryside in a camper, etc. Though I didn’t really have much of a ‘feel’ for London when the book was briefly there in the beginning.

This book is a combination of wordy and thin. Lots of time passing, but in a 'months passed' kind of way. The main character is kind of flighty - dropping everything on a whim to return to her homeland of Australia. Leaping upon the first lesbian she runs across when she decides she's willing to be a lesbian now; then barely communicating with that woman again afterwards despite their close-ish living situations.

Apparently forming a long term love-lust relationship with someone just because they are one of only two people who recognized, while she was still living in London, that she was actually a lesbian despite her claims to be 'sorry-I'm-straight'. Sadly that is how the relationship seemed to read to me - they recognized that Sue was a lesbian so Sue was interested in them; especially when she happened to end up in Australia 'near-ish'.

Then, because she’s something like a passive push-over moron, she takes in an ex-girlfriend - and does not tell her current girlfriend about the situation - about the fact that her ex is living with her. Because she'd sound defensive (WTF?), so instead she just looks like she's cheating on her current girlfriend - yes much better.

The entire situation with Denise, that ex-girlfriend, was in many ways very annoying, frustrating, and not the least needed in this book. At least the part wherein Denise turned up at Sue’s place. But that’s life. Books like this need conflict and a certain amount of padding, so let’s stuff in an ex-girlfriend.

Maybe it’s the nature of a first person point of view, but I never really got much of a feeling for this person named ‘Moni’. She’s blond, has big hair, and is a doctor. And that’s about it. There’s enough there to tell that she has a personality and isn’t just there, isn’t just a dead fish, but it’s hard to see more with the information given.

If I was to pick out a favorite scene in the book, I’d probably have to go with the one wherein Moni and Sue are stuck by the side of the road because Moni’s car has broken down. It’s been a while now with them waiting. Sue mentions that stripping down would likely bring someone along – she knows because her camper’s shower is an outdoor shower. So Moni begins stripping in the middle of the road while Sue sings. That was quite an interesting thing to visualize.

My least favorite scene might be obvious considering, though I’ve played with this review so much I’m not sure I’ve included it . . . no, I see it now when I blink and my eyes slide up the screen. Right, so my least favorite scene would be when Denise has dropped by because she wants some help leaving her husband. And Sue offers to let her stay the night – on the spare bed. And decides that it’d be ‘stupid’ for her to tell her girlfriend that her ex-girlfriend is staying over. Because, reasons. Yes, this is my least favorite scene in the book – not when the expected happened and the new girlfriend, Moni, caught Denise and Sue in a compromising position, though that wasn’t exactly a great thing to read; nor was it when Sue was thinking about what happened and has thoughts like ‘wasn’t blameless’ – worded in a way that sounds like she is grudgingly accepting some of the blame, when the blame is entirely hers – again, not my least favorite scene, though maybe my second least favorite scene.

Sex? Well yes, there is graphic sex in this book. Possible I overlooked something here or there, but there were several scenes involving three people (heh, no not threesomes, two people in each scene, just involved three people total – 2 by 2; okay, Sue fucked Felix and then later fucked Moni, see three people). Author did a bit of teasing though, at least with Moni and Sue, with them almost doing it a few times before they finally did for the first time. In terms of eroticism, the stripping scene would still be my favorite in the book.

I do not really know what to rate this book. I had to pause around the 70% mark, and then decided to not continue by the 72% mark, but then, because hey that’s what I do, I finished the book. It actually did get interesting and good there near the end, but then the book went and ended abruptly. So. Rating. I’m going to slap a 3 on it for now and might raise or lower it as my thoughts congeal (yes, my thoughts are liquid, and I wish for them to freeze together into a solid).

October 6 2016

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this re read (originally read this over a year ago) was in prep for the ARC from YLVA Almost-Married Moni and figured my original read through was only a rating, and here I thought I'd do a quick review on my thoughts.

The first 70% story line was pretty awesome. Sue leaves home for uni and finds herself in London with not only a touch of homesickness but a habit of telling folks she's straight when confronted by anyone queer who asks. Because she surrounds herself in the queer community in London (and prior at uni).

Then there's the rest.

"I had to tell her that Denise was under my roof, but something held me back."

Yea. The author did. This is the singular sentence that led this book to be a 3 star book instead of 5. Up and to this point in the book I thought to myself, why in the world did I rate this anything other than a 5 the first time I read it? It's been very entertaining and real up to this point. Well there's the reason. The other shoe. The author shoe. Sue, if she were actually in character and not under the author's thumb, would have instantly told her GF what was going on. Even vented some of the frustrations of the situation to her. Instead? Author contrivances.

Once again, typical trope of build it up, break it, and then repair it (which in this case took 20% of the book to do). Such a tired formula. Going to revise this original rating of 4 down to a 3.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I enjoyed this novel very much. Thanks to Ylva for the ARC.
It is the first book I've read from Cheyenne Blue, but definitely not the last one. So I started with the second book of the "Girls meets Girl Series", but it was not a problem. It just caught my attention for the first one. The storys can stand alone, despite some referrings to the previous story.
Cheyenne has written a really nice romance which takes place in London and the outback of Australia. I very much liked the way, she shows the thoughts, feelings and the struggling of the main caracters. I could feel with them. She also describes the landscapes very pictorially. You can really good imagen driving through this landscapes on your own, especially when you have visited Australia herself.
The story of Sue and Moni is fluently written and the caracters well developed. After a very bad coming out as a teenager back home, with the result of the denial of her being queer for a long time, Sue finally can accept who she is. She returns to her home country to fight her demons of the betrayal of her first lover and to find a place in a rural area where she can find her peace.
On the other side Moni, who's dream is, to join the flying doctors in downunder. After her dream comes true, will she really be that lucky and find the love of her live in the woman she once met in London and now also live near her base? The woman she never could forget?
Sorry for my english, I'm a swiss german speaking woman.

[Nikki "The Crazie Betty" V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Cheyenne Blue’s second full length novel, and the follow up to the first in the series “Never-Tied Nora”. In NsSS we follow Sue as she comes to terms with her sexual identify and deals with painful events from her past that have kept her from being who she truly is deep down.

I’ve really enjoyed this series so far as Cheyenne draws out beautifully normal characters, dealing with episodes in their lives that many of us can relate to. NsSS wasn’t overly angsty, it was more real to life. So there weren’t a lot of super dramatic events and declarations. There is one part of the story that is Sue dealing with someone in her past, which also puts some strain on Sue and Moni’s budding relationship. It felt realistically dealt with, though. The characters are adults, and while they aren’t perfect, they deal with their issues in a true to life grown up way. They don’t all of the sudden become stupid irrational teenagers.

I loved the secondary characters introduced in this and would love to see more with Mrs. T in the final book to the series, “Fenced-In Felix”, which I’m also really looking forward to as I loved her character in NsSS!

I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys f/f romance. NsSS doesn’t necessarily have to be read after Never-Tied Nora, but it is recommended so that you get the full story on everyone that is involved in NsSS.

I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

*ARC provided by the Publisher for an honest review*

I read the first book in this series and I really enjoyed it so it was a no brainer for me to request this book when I saw it. The book starts off with the former main characters Nora and Geraldine in London with our new main character Sue, I thought it was going to pick up so I kept reading but I was sorely disappointed. This book is authentic in its description of Aussie rural outback life so I have to give it praise for that but as for the rest of the story, not so much.

I have this book 2.7 stars rounded up because it is well written but where it lacks for me is in character development, I don't feel like I believed any of the character interactions becAuse they all seemed so premature. The relationship between Moni and Sue might have captured me if I understood their connection a bit better but as I said there wasn't enough development. The little interlude with Felix on the way to Mungabilly Creek had be scratching my head because of the complete turnaround that seemed to occur in Sue without much warning, she went from outright denial to getting into bed with a complete stranger and declaring her homosexuality in record time.

This book could have been stronger if the relationships had more development and the characters reasoning behind doing the things they didn't seem so flimsy.

[Jo reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worst part about this book was that it ended. :(

This was a cracking good book!

[Agirlcandream · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Danni Mladenovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

*The copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I was very fond of Never tied Nora, so I was very eager to get to this book when I saw it on NetGalley. I wasn't disappointed. This can be a sequel, and also a stand-alone book. I love the fact that the main character is also a narrator, And it was a nice enough plot - the girl coming back to the root of all her problems - finding that she wouldn't prefer it anywhere else to live. There is also "the" girl - Moni - the character I must say I like more than Sue - a witty, perspicacious, cute Texan. Will Sue be able to put her past where it belongs, in the past, and move on, or is it comfortable enough to walk through life easily without letting anyone in? I found that plot captivating enough to make me read the book at once, in just one night.

[Pippa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Brent is a lawyer progressing through the ranks in a London firm. Her best friend Nora is a lesbian and Sue has been happily hanging out with lesbians for years using the line, “Sorry, I’m straight.” Even with the prospect of a promotion at work, and a handsome and kind young man as a date, Sue realises that she’s kidding herself. The pull to come home to a small town in outback Australia, and the pull to come out of the closet and face her demons is stronger than the pull to remain in her recently constructed life.

Back home in Yeringup, a small town in Queensland - Australia’s version of Texas - Sue knows things could be tough for a newly minted lesbian. But it’s there she’ll face her first love, Denise, the one who broke her heart, and a small town with equally small minds when it comes to the LGBTIQ community. Or so she thinks.

Ten years is a long time though, and things have changed, even in Yeringup. Finding a job as a lawyer helps, but it isn’t until one of her friends from London arrives that things heat up. Moni is an American doctor who loves working in rural communities. When she hears that Sue has moved back to Queensland, Moni finds a job working with the Royal Flying Doctor’s service nearby. And when Denise turns up again, Sue’s new life erupts.

This was a really good book to read. The story has more density to it than many others I’ve read for a while, and the main character is more complex. The flaws she has are reasonable and forgivable, and the plot works with her character really well. It was all very believable. The motivations of the characters worked seamlessly with the story. The character interactions felt genuine, and there was enough dialogue to give me a good sense of the interactions, without it ever feeling forced, or pulling me out of the story.

There was a lovely sense of flow in the book. It was very easy to read as a result; never too dense, but also, never too light. The characters felt very grounded, and I could see them behaving that way. The main character was very likable and quite a lot of fun. The supporting characters did their jobs well, and some were fleshed out enough to give a broader sense of life for the main character, which worked really well.

It may help that I grew up in rural Australia, even if it wasn’t such a small town as Yeringup. I could easily visualise the characters as they were described and the way they interacted and the way the town functioned made sense in the context of the knowledge I have of small country towns in Australia.

I loved that so much of it was set in Australia, and I thought this part worked really well. I really enjoyed the book. In fact, I’ve just bought the first book by Blue in the series, and can’t wait for the third, which is out in December I gather.

Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This book is a superb example of setting making the story. We start in London, and Sue, our protagonist, is happy with her professional life. She has great friends, and is enjoying the many diverse things a big city like London can offer a transplanted Australian from a tiny town. What she doesn't have is a personal life. She's dated men, quite a few, as a matter of fact. But nothing lasts. And her response to any of the many women asking her out is that she's straight. What we learn is that Australia, more specifically, the Outback in Queensland, as rural a place as one might find in Australia, is calling to her soul. She finds a job in a different small town than the one she grew up in and heads home. First stop is her parents house, where we learn that Sue is not so straight, after all. And the events that occurred so many years ago have scarred her and affect her still. It's as she heads over land to her new job that the rural landscape of her youth begins to heal Sue deep inside.
We're along for the journey, the dusty road, the kangaroos populating the roadside in the twilight dusk, the endless vistas and horizon stretching out ahead of her. Blue writes with a love of the country that comes through, not only with her words, but also how her characters interact with the landscape. The second person who populates this land of scarcity is Moni, an American tourist that Sue first met in London through her friend, Nora. Moni is a doctor who has just joined the Australian Flying Doctors program for a year and has just been stationed at the closest hospital to the small town Sue ended up in. Moni is also the only person who never believed Sue's protestations of heterosexuality, and their reunion is much anticipated by both.
At its most basic, this book is about whether Sue can heal enough to allow herself to try for her own happiness again. It is very much a journey of healing and of realizing what are the most important things in life, and of self-discovery. The setting of the story, the landscape, is almost another character within the book, because both main characters have such a love for it, and it twines itself around their lives together. The only negative for me was how long Sue let what happened in her childhood affect her own happiness. I couldn't say for sure that no one would do that to themselves, but I just think Sue is too smart to deny herself that long. That being said, I loved this book, and with the little introduction to Felix within it, I'm looking forward to the next book very much. Also, since this is my first introduction to Cheyenne Blue, I'm also looking forward to reading the first book in the series.
I obtained a copy of this book from Ylva in order to review it.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given Sue was my absolute favourite supporting character in Never-Tied Nora, I couldn’t wait to dive into her story. Did it live it to my expectations? Hell yes! Sue is a heroine I found myself able to relate to on so many levels. Living across the ditch from Aussie, the down under setting was a treat for me. I also love to get around in a campervan, so that too was a bonus. Although there’s not so much red dirt in New Zealand.

So the story starts out with Sue’s road-trip through the outback. Along the way she encounters Felix. I loved their outing on the horses, the writing was so vivid I felt like I was riding along with them. The attraction between Sue and Felix is instantaneous and undeniable. They steam up the pages for a short time before Sue and her dog, Ripper, continue on their way.

Over the course of her journey, Sue keeps in touch with Nora and various friends via emails and skype whenever the internet allows it. And of course this involves ‘coming out.’ The story behind why Sue was in the closet is heartfelt and, I’m sure, an all too common occurrence.

The first 50% of this story is a slow-burn, low on angst, more of a feel good read. Then Moni joins the mix. Thus begins the relationship between Sue and Moni. They are hot together, and their relationship goes deeper than lust and sex. I need to say here, I actually found it a little odd that the most erotic, on-page scene was between the main character and a side-character, rather than the main characters. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me, but still…

The fact Sue is a lawyer added depth to the story, without bogging it down with legal jargon. It certainly made it interesting when an old foe came seeking her services.

From that point the drama picked up, the required miscommunication ensued, and despite the fact I found the outcome rather predictable I thoroughly enjoyed reading along.

Just for the record – I know Aussies and Kiwis alike often say moved towards, forwards, backwards, etc. But I’ve not met a single person who says… “I look forwards to it.”

The story flows at a good pace and the characters are well developed. Mrs T. needs an honorable mention as she too was a delight. All in all, this was a very enjoyable read which I highly recommend!

Copy provided in exchange for an honest review

[Lisa R Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story

This is a very well written tale about finding love. The characters are well developed, and the storyline flows from the pages. If you are looking for a feel-good tale of lesbian love with a happily ever after, this book, this series belongs on your must-read list.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏳️‍🌈👩‍❤‍👩📚👩‍❤‍💋‍👩👩‍🎓👩‍⚕⚢📖👭🏳️‍🌈

Cheyenne Blue’s « Not-So-Straight Sue » (Girl Meets Girl Series Book 2) ==> I was offered the book in exchange of an honest review, so …
Here it is !!!

Since I as a child my preference has always been for third person narration (even in French). So, logically, when I began to read in English I wasn’t a fan of the first person narration. But, since, I’ve read a few amazing novels written from one of the main characters’s perspective and I changed a lil bit my mind…
In « Not-So-Straight Sue », the story is told from Sue Brent’s perspective (Remember her ??? We met her in « Never-Tied Nora » where she was a secondary character and Nora’s best friend). As a matter of fact, I confess that, it doesn’t bother me, at all .. Why ??? => Because I felt a real connection with Sue & even with her beloved Moni and all the secondary characters are very well defined. So, the way the story is told , we (readers) can see not only everyone but also everything else in 3D …
Yeah … Cheyenne Blue is one of these authors who writes well, with style & a lot of humor (even more than in the 1st book of the series, I laughed out loud numerous times). Her vivid descriptions of the Australian outback landscape will blow you away and, dangerous snakes and other « lovely » animals like that be damned, give you the desire to visit the outback of Queensland … ASAP !!!
I know I can’t wait …

Oh … I also found that the book was very instructive because of the great settings, we learn a lot of things about some of the Aussie people’s life :
° their remote life in the outback,
° their special medical organisation,
° their slang language (I’m so happy to have the Macquarie concise dictionary – seventh edition -- on my bookshelves … and put it at use !!! ),
and, aside what I’ve already tasted -- the famous Vegemite (not that bad) & the Tim Tams (YUM !!!) -- I even made a few interesting culinary discoveries… I’ll have to give them a try when I’ll visit Australia …


When we first met her in the previous book, Sue Brent was defined (by herself) as straight, like super, duper, extra straight … Yeah !! But you know what ? … Of course, she was just kidding !!!
I deeply loved the book and its sweet romance, but also both of Sue’s journeys (the geographical one from London to Queensland & the personal one) in her way to accept herself for who she is really). They were courageous and touching moves … Added to the emotional side, there’s a very enjoyable sexy / erotic side in this story some times … and it was also cool to have a lil bit of info about the Nora and Ger (from « Never-Tied Nora » -- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... ) and to be introduced to Felix (the main character of the 3rd book of the series « Fenced-In-Felix » -- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... ). I can’t wait to read the next book to have some news about all of those lovely characters …

Don’t be shy guys and gals, grab your copy and make your own opinion …
Enjoy your reading !!!
Personally I recommend this novel &, for sure, I’ll add it to my « must be re-read » - list …

🏳️‍🌈👩‍❤‍👩📚👩‍❤‍💋‍👩👩‍🎓👩‍⚕⚢📖👭🏳️‍🌈

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Book received from NetGalley and Ylva Publishing in return for a fair review*

I am afraid this is one of those books that while the writing is not bad, the story just fails everywhere.

I could not connect with Sue, with her fears and motivations. I neither understood the second characters, thus we did not know enough about them to understand them and their actions.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one that was an easy read. I enjoyed this one as well. Looking forward to reading the third!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not-So-Straight Sue by Cheyenne Blue is the second book in her Girl Meets Girl series and, dare I say it? I liked it even more than Never-Tied Nora (and I liked that one a whole lot). Although it fully stands alone, I was glad I’d read Never-Tied Nora first, because I enjoyed seeing Nora and Geraldine again and I came into this story excited to read about Sue and her journey.

http://www.thelesbianreview.com/not-s...

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Della B · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I just love the title of this novel. I am a constant reader who devours books but I can never remember the title of any current novel i have my nose in, except this one. The title tickled my funny bone, repeatedly, as the story unfolded.
The novel begins in London and migrates to the Australian outback. Not-so-straight-sue is a lawyer returning home after 10 years of running from small town prejudice and the pain that influenced her life away from home. Her descriptions of life in small town Australia makes you want to pull up a chair and join Sue on her veranda while sipping a glass of good red wine and staring at the night sky while listening to the sounds of the night.
The love story keeps pace
with the laid back atmosphere of the Outback. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who yearns for a quieter life.

[FionaH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this. Great to see well-done Aussie lesfic. Loved the main character, Sue, and her dry humour and moments of quiet reflection. Liked Moni too and the two of them made a lovely, believable couple. I was totally sold on the outback setting. Author had landscape and characters perfectly.

I enjoyed seeing Sue reconnect with her place in the world, on so many levels. Secondary characters were fantastic and all added to the story rather than being backdrops. Mrs T and Ken in particular.

Only slight minus was that I'd have liked to have a bit more of Moni's backstory.

Still a solid five star read for me.

[BookFiend17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Not-So-Straight Sue by Cheyenne Blue even more enjoyable than the first book in the Girl-Meets-Girl series! So good! Not only is Sue back but so is Moni. I not only loved tagging along with Sue on her journey but reading the descriptions of Sue's Australian landscape made me want to rent a camper van and travel the Australian outback. I found this book to be wonderfully written, and engaging, with hot love, passionate love scenes. I highly recommend Not-So-Straight Sue by Cheyenne Blue to anyone looking for an escape.

[JWG1973UK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is getting better with each book that I read. I loved this one a little more than the first book. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Aj Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit skeptical of this book when I started reading it, expecting the traditional lesbian romance fiction plot arc to makes it's hefty presence felt at any moment, but Cheyenne Blue left me pleasantly surprised. Sue, Moni, Felix, Ger and Nora are all surprisingly realistic characters, with shockingly normal lives. Even Sue's deep secret and reason for leaving home as soon as she could is shockingly normal. All of this normality leads to a brilliantly believable book. While I will admit to have enjoyed the Radclyffe template of dashing butch with a terrible past and brilliant girly femme who gives her hope (after one of them nearly dies, obviously) it does get a bit repetitive after a while. Thankfully, very few of the traditional tropes appear here!

The best recommendation I can give is that I went out and bought Never-Tied Nora and I'm eagerly awaiting the third instalment in the series!

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a binge read on the Girl meets Girl series - love it. The perfect receipt for restful afternoons and a lovely holiday. Really quiet short - but hey, love them. Highly recommended.

[Les Rêveur · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Sue had a traumatic event as a teenager that lead to her going back in the closet and denying her homosexuality even to her closet friends. She decided to stop living in denial and head back to her home-town and a life she has been running away from most of her life. Sue meets back up with a friend she met once upon a time in London. The attraction that never died for both Sue and Moni start them on a collision course for love however when the past come knocking at Sue’s door it could turn everything upside down.

This was a step up from the first in the series ‘Never-Tied Nora’. I enjoyed the first book but Not-So-Straight Sue was more my kind of romance. I really enjoy Cheyenne Blue style of writing. Its honest and down to earth. More than once I thought the conversation between the characters was one I would have with my Aussie friends. I’m a expat living in Australia just now so I really enjoyed the geography lesson and it gave me the push to check out some of the outback that I needs to go on my Bucket List.

Sue was a great character in the first novel so I was really excited to get into this book and hear more about her story. This story is one of courage and embracing your life even when you don’t know if it could harm your relationships with loved ones. Sue’s bravery was encouraging and lead to some real special moments between her family and friends. I have to say I enjoyed the moments with Moni the best. She was fun, light hearted and very honest with her feelings. Sue and Moni's love was clear from the beginning and gave the reader hope from the moment they meet up in Outback Australia.

I was left wanting more from Felix in this novel and then I read that the next book in the series concentrates on Felix’s love life. The book Fenced-in Felix was 15th of November 2016 so guess what I’ll be reading very soon…

I am looking forward to the snuggling up with the third book in the series very soon.

4 Stars

[Starsandsun18 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this better than the first book.
I just don't get it why didn't she tell Nora about her past? I mean, Nora treated her not only as her best friend but more like a family and yet she pretended that she's straight, I think that's totally unfair.
I would have appreciate it also if she did tell Nora about her past before she left. I mean she owes it to her, right? Not just an email.
And on the other hand Pàdraig's gaydar is a lot stronger than Nora? Or maybe Nora just trusted her that much.
I mean she denied his claims repeatedly but still he doesn't believed her.
And of course he's right.
There's also a preview of Felix here. She's the MC on the third installment.
I like Moni, she's easy going and straight forward. I like them together.
I started to enjoy the book when they were together. All those sweet moments.
Until Denise entered the picture. Her ex from the past, the reason why she went to London and have a fresh start.
Can she escape her past? Or will she gave up her present?

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book as much, if not better than the first in the series! The characters are interesting and make you want to find out what their story is. I liked seeing the progression of Sue from a support character in "Never-Tied Nora" to the central character in this book. Moni adds fun, friendship and the possibilty of something new for Sue. Combining old friends, family history, a small country town and a cast of interesting locals provides the perfect backdrop for a great read.
Cheyenne enables the reader to visualise and feel what Sue is going through with a tight writing style that is very enjoyable. I look foward to Book Three!