French male model Simeon Duchamp has a lot of explaining to do.Two years after a breakdown Simeon is off drugs and booze and wants to stay that way. On his road to reclaiming his life and modeling career, Sim first needs to apologize to the man he hurt the most -his ex-best friend and object of his unrequited affection Pieter Bayer. Pieter now has a long-term partner, artist Emily Raven, with … Raven, with whom he shares a baby son. Sim is amazed when Pieter accepts his apology, and invites him into his family.
Closeness to Pieter sees Simeon’s longing for his friend is rekindled. But then, when Simeon meets an attractive older man, Bastian Roth at an Art Exhibition, he realizes that there is a soul more broken than his, and Simeon feels compelled to help. Simeon’s connection with the troubled Bastian Roth turns his world upside down. He has to decide whether to allow himself to fall for the man who wants him or pine for the man he can never have.
THIS BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE
Please note: This story contains graphic descriptions of gay sex. (Yay!)
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I have to first admit this story was not quite what I expected, when I requested it, it was so much more. Two lonely souls trying to find there way back from loss and hurt. There beginning is rocky, but when the heat hits ooh la la.
Gary Furlong really brought these characters to life, with multiple accents.
Reviewed for Audiobook Boom
I got shivers!
I love that Simeon, the beautiful, fragile totally messed up addict is the best person in this story. I know there is a different book before this one and I know Simeon behaved badly, which is why he goes to rehab. But you just have to love a guy who works hard to change.
I think this story works because it’s based in the ultra chic world of fashion and old European money. Thve problems are all “first world” problems which makes this a bit of a fantasy. Now, I was not impressed with Bast. He is a mess and I hoped for more for Simeon. Bast is kind of a sad sack and I still don’t really like him. He is the reason for the conflict- caused by his faults- oh the irony. So yeah, first world problems.
I was swept up in Simeon’s journey which was brought to life by Gary Furlong. And sweet Jesus did he capture Simeon. His performance is outstanding and really made Simeon sympathetic and sexy and so likable. His voice is so silky and amazing and varied so you hear the different characters and feel their emotions. Holy amaze balls! The audiobook performance is one of the best I have ever heard.
This romance has everything: unrequited love, second chances, age gap, hurt/comfort, .
“I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”
Sweet Thing is the second book in the Pretty Boy series by Isobel Starling. This is a fantastic story. It has lots of drama, emotion, some humor, lust, sweetness and love – bothromantic and friendship. There are some twists and it does pull at your heart….the story is well written and beautiful. The characters are interesting and keep your attention, both main and supporting. At first you are not completely sure you will like the main characters but as the story unfolds you start to really care about themand root for them. It’s nice that the story is written from various POV at different points, you really get to know the characters.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
This is a review of the audiobook.
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
A great story and a fantastic audio performance.
I have heard so many great things about this audiobook but just never got around to adding it to my library. When the author recently offered me a free code to get the book there was no way I was going to turn her down.
I have to admit that for some reason I was a bit confused when I first started listening to this. I’m going to attribute that to starting it when I was already involved in doing something else. Most of the time I can listen and work around the house at the same time but the beginning of this story needed more of my attention. Later on I was able to resume working around this house while I listened.
Once I settled down and could give this my full attention, I immediately fell in love with the story and all of the different voices that Gary Furlong did for the characters. I’m not sure that I would have enjoyed Sweet Thing nearly as much if I had read it; Gary’s performance was just that fantastic.
This is the first audiobook I’ve listened to with characters that have so many different accents. Simeon is French, Bastian is German and I think there were also a couple of different British accents for other characters. The voice he used for Simeon was the perfect combination of petulant and sultry; Bastian was wonderfully growly.
The story is pretty angsty and deals with things that some might be sensitive to: a recovering addict, previous suicide attempt, and a spanking that got out of control. But both Simeon and Bastian are broken and the story shows us all of their broken parts and, just when you think there is no hope, manages to put them back together again. There was also a twist in the story that I never saw coming.
While I did receive a complimentary code to purchase this audiobook, my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
There’s a luscious darkness in the themes of Isobel Starling’s novel Sweet Thing. Unrequited love, depression, and addiction intertwined with passion, forgiveness, and love. The angst is only surpassed by the intense emotions churned up by the main characters as they work on reclaiming their lives. With Gary Furlong’s panty melting narration, Sweet Thing is one hell of a roller coaster ride.
The main reason I feel compelled to write this review is to pay homage to Gary Furlong’s superb narration of Sweet Thing. I’m always captivated by his strong and sensual voice. But when Mr. Furlong speaks Simeon’s lines in French? It’s honestly the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard! Seriously toe curlingly swoonworthy. Even Bastian’s rumbling German accent is sexy as hell. There’s so much emotion in this story and what Gary Furlong’s voice imparts upon these characters is immeasurable. His skillful narration kept me enthralled from beginning to end.
Part of the Pretty Boy series, Sweet Thing is centered around Simeon and his life after rehab. Even though I haven’t read the other books in the series, I had no trouble enjoying this one as a standalone. There’s a prequel, New York’s In Love, which tells the story leading up to Simeon’s breakdown; I can’t wait to get all the dirty details as it’s already downloaded on my Kindle.
Wild and passionate, Simeon is pursued by more demons than anyone should have to bear. Isobel Starling sets the stage for Simeon’s tale with a deliciously steamy opening scene, and everything just snowballs from there.
Self-absorbed, insecure, and sober for the first time in years Simeon leaves rehab to return to his home in Berlin. When his friends accept his apologies and welcome him back, he’s stunned by their generosity of spirit. It’s easy to see the changes come over Simeon as he works toward becoming an emotionally secure, compassionate man.
As sex is one of the few things in which he can indulge, when handsome, sophisticated Bastian catches his eye, Simeon can’t resist. Broken and mourning the loss of his longtime lover, Bastian accepts Simeon’s help as they establish an intimacy neither man has known before. The intense, passionate connection these two make is just what each needs to begin to heal.
Sweet Thing is a fast-paced, sexy, and exciting romance. The tension and the angst are wonderful, and the pivotal climactic scene gave me chills. Isobel Starling has a good bit of fun with this story as well, and I love the skillful way she weaves David Bowie and his music into the plot. Hey, it even got me thinking about dusting off my Diamond Dogs album… I just hope my turntable still works.
First let me state that I loved this book. This is a read that you have to thoroughly invest yourself into or you won’t be truly connected and will miss out on the actual depth of the story. I had to read it twice myself because I knew I missed something. There is so much to the despair, loss, confusion, as well as personal growth that Simeon and Bastian have to go through. Sure you can focus on the bad boy hot model and the gorgeous billionaire but there is so much more. I think Sim’s real turning point was the picnic with the Bayer family. The interactions he has with Lukas are so revealing to his actual character. Bastian is a damaged soul. Simeon’s desire to help him is the breakthrough they both needed. With recovery from anything having its ups and downs, this book shows us that we all are in need of help sometimes and we have to remember that we all are works in progress. I highly recommend this book. Just give yourself time to be lost to it. From the complex characters to the beautiful scenery, it’s an emotionally satisfying experience.