Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Beer Truck
SERIES: It Should Have Been You (Book 1)
AUTHOR: Emily Carrington
PUBLISHER: Changing Press
LENGTH: 117 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2023
BLURB:
When TJ, a famous country star, finds out he has cancer, he retreats to his hometown to heal away from the paparazzi. Uncomfortable living with his parents, he gets a job as a beer truck driver.
Harvey is the owner of a local bar. He’s been following TJ’s career because the two of them used to be lovers. But TJ insisted on being in the closet. Now that Harvey’s older, he can’t imagine burying himself like that ever again.
But when TJ walks into his bar, both men are shocked by the attraction that still blossoms between them. But neither will budge in their beliefs. How can they possibly find happiness in each other’s arms?
Publisher’s Note: Content trigger warnings for both internal and external homophobia and physical illness (cancer survivor).
REVIEW:
A quick read of second chance love.
When TJ finds out that he has laryngeal cancer he immediately cancels his tour and leaves Nashville to begin radiation treatments in his small hometown in Pennsylvania. But he soon realizes that he can’t stay at his homophobic and über religious parents house. They have no idea that he is so deep in the closet and he can’t handle another gay slur or off-color joke. But drawing on his bank account will lead a trail back to him. So he rents a nice room from a gay couple and gets a job delivering beer for a local microbrewery. Little did he know that his cover would be blown immediately when he walks into Maurice’s and his ex, the one he still dreams about and writes most his songs about, just change the sex of the love song interest, is one of the owners. Harvey knows that TJ is the one that got away. And even if he still pines after his love of his life he simply can’t be forced back in the closet again. No matter how much is on the line for his Terry.
This was a real fast read. Country Music Star Terry “TJ” Hickey has way too much to lose if his sexuality ever becomes public knowledge. He’s already skating on the edge of his career with larynx cancer. It may be only stage one but there are no guarantees that he will be able to sing again professionally. And losing his parents is definitely going to happen. They are so homophobic and, on top of that, so into themselves. As long as he’s a star and helping keep a roof over their heads they tolerate him. But coming out gay in Country music will probably end his career and they won’t stand for a gay son! But the problem is is that Terry longs for Harvey and coming face-to-face with him is hard. And living across the street is worse.
This is the tale of one man out-and-proud and the other buried deep in the closet and too afraid to peek out. But the bottom line is that they both love the other and haven’t stopped longing for them for over 20 years.
I liked both men and wanted them together but I couldn’t imagine a solution that would finally allow them to be a real couple. The problem is that the solution came so fast and then the book ended. I needed to know what the fallout was but it just was over. Yes love prevailed but at what cost?
RATING: 
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