Daytime Drama by Dave Benbow

Synopsis From Dust Jacket:

At twenty-eight, Clay Beasley is one of the thousands of young, handsome actors trying to get that "big break" in L.A.  And with his warm brown eyes, incredible body, and aw-shucks Texas charm-plus talent-he's getting close, even if he is stuck taking extra work on daytime TV's hottest soap opera, Sunset Cove.  Spending time on the set is a real eye-opener for Clay, as he gets to see the soap world's most gorgeous, egocentric men and women at their conniving, clawing best (or worst), along with a parade of bitchy producers, weary directors, insane writers, put-upon casting agents, and ruthless network hotshots.

Even among the young and the restless of the Sunset Cove cast, certain larger-than-life characters stand out.  Like Jack Benz, a.k.a Stone Coltrane, the hottest man in soaps, whose square jaw and full lips have launched a thousand housewive's fantasies, even though his preferred fantasy involved rough trade with gorgeous young men.  And Travis church, the show's star bad boy.  With his long, dark hair and a mouthwatering physique, he's the one person on the set Clay would like to get to know much better.  It just so happens that Travis welcomes the chance to show Clay what passion is all about, igniting an explosive, secret affair.

But everything changes when Jack Benz meets a tragic end just before sweeps week.  Suddenly, Clay has his chance at the role of a lifetime, pushed ino the spotlight and possibly into danger-because Jack's death was no accident...it was murder.  Now, the set of daytime TV's hottst soap is nothing compared to the diva-drama going on behind the scences...

This a a fun, quirky murder mystery set in the sex filled world of soap operas.  Now I'm addicted to the shows I watch, All My Children and One Life to Live, so any book or movie that takes place in that world always holds my attention.  The fact that this book is full of sexy guys, hot sex scenes, both gay and straight, and a growing body count, makes it all that much better.

Other than Travis and Clay who make a great couple and have to deal with the added pressure of trying to hide their relationship from the public the are some wonderfully over the top characters that make this book wonderful to read.  There is the sexy, rich detective, Dave Paker who starts an affair with the gorgeous VP of Daytime Dramas, Drusilla Gordon who may be a suspect in the case.  We have Cissis Stanton, the assistant casting director who may be taking too much interest in the personal lifes of certain cast memebers as well as a embezelling bitch of a producer and a cross dressing executive who wants to become a lesbian.  Of course there are a few other characters, both major and minor, who play their roles in this well staged murder mystery.

This is a story of obsession gone wrong and of secrets that shouldn't be kept.  It's what happens when those obessions start to control your life and when those secrets start to tear you apart. I recomend this one to anyone who wants a quick mystery to read that is both sexy and fun.

This will qualify for the GLBT Challenge 2010 and the Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge 2010.