Violet Calloway knows who she is. From an early age, she was taught how to pick the right clothes, the right job, and, most importantly, the right man. What she wasn’t taught was how to be happy. But when her father dies, leaving her with a ramshackle building and the sparks of an idea for a new life as a bakery owner, Violet jumps at the chance. When her infuriatingly sexy new contractor shows up, sinking in her life savings and disappointing her family becomes the least of Violet’s worries.
He’s desperate to save his old one…
Nick Morello has made colossal mistakes in his life, letting down the people who love him the most. His best shot of proving to himself and his family that he’s not the guy he used to be lies in the successful completion of Violet’s shop. The family’s construction business is on the line but if he gets the bakery done right, business will roll in.
Getting what they deserve…
He can’t afford another mistake and she’s already put so much on the line. Giving in to the sizzling attraction spells disaster but when Violet puts her hands on Nick, the best of intentions go down in flames.
Sweet Thing is the first book of the multi-author Hale Street series. All books in the series can be read as stand-alone novels.
I really enjoyed the first book to the Hale street series. The author has her own unique style, but I liked it and will look for other books by her. Looking forward to following this series, really like the ideas of the street becoming new again sounds really cool!
Review written: September 21, 2016 Star Rating: ★★★½☆ Heat Rating: ☀☀☼☼☼
This book was received free via the author for an honest review and reviewed for My Book Addiction Reviews, where you can see my full review.
Sweet Thing is the first book in the brand new Hale Street series, a collaboration by three authors. The series certainly opens up with a bang! Violet’s father has recently passed away and Daisy is soon to be married to their father’s partner in the Hale Street venture and Violet is wondering what to do with her inheritance. It isn’t long before she embarks on an adventurous enterprise with her cousin Ivy and new friend Kennedy – Sugar Babies. Enter Nick. Nick is hoping to get the job and get into the Hale Street rebuild not just because he really wants it – he does – but also to prove to his brother he can do this and redeem himself.
I really enjoyed Violet’s story – a story about growing up, overcoming adversity, strong sisterhood, and accepting love. There was great chemistry between Nick and Violet and plenty of ups and downs as they work on their relationship. Violet, Ivy, and Kennedy also grow into a strong group, with excellent sisterhood dynamics (which remind me a little of Lauren Dane’s strong sisterhoods). Seeing the men bond as well is a bonus. This is a great start to the series!
I read Amy Knupp's books in the seties first and loved all them. Wasn't sure what to expect from another author in the same series, but Emily Leigh did a fabulous job. Can't wait to finish out the other books in the series.
Sweet Thing by Emily Leigh is a book I have had on my to-be-read list for a long time. After finishing it today, I am kicking myself for not reading it earlier! Leigh is a new-to-me author so I didn’t really know what I was missing. Well, I have already looked up her website to see what other books she has written that I can get my hands on! Sweet Thing is the first in the Hale Street series and we are introduced so characters in Sweet Thing that we will read about in future books. After reading Sweet Thing, I find myself wanting to eat cupcakes, remodel my house, and snuggle my husband a little longer each night. I love when an author can inspire my life in an entertaining fiction romance!
Violet Calloway is the heroine that every reader wants to be or befriend. Violet cares so much about everyone around her and doesn’t do anything less than 100% in life. Even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. Nick Morello is the contractor that is hired to remodel an old building on Hale street for Violets new bakery. As you can imagine (this is a romance after all), sparks fly, and the chemistry is off the charts for these two. Their romance was such fun to watch – from the easy way they communicated, to the friendship and respect that built between them, to the hot and steamy bedroom moments. What I loved about Violet and Nick is that even when they had hurdles to get through neither of them acted immature or ridiculous. They treated each other with such respect and maintained their professional relationship. It is what I am looking for when reading romance at this stage in my life.
The supporting characters in Sweet Thing were equally engaging to me. They each have a story that I want to know about. What happened in their pasts to make them the way they are today? There is something surprising that happens to a couple of the supporting characters and it had me looking ahead a the other Hale Street books. I was relieved to see that we get to catch up with these two that are so prominent in Sweet Thing.
If you are looking for a fantastic story that is entertaining from start to finish, has characters that make you feel like you are already friends with them, and a hot and steamy romance, give Sweet Thing a read. And if you have yet to read Emily Leigh, you need to start. Her writing is easy, smart, and she is great at showing the scenes. You can taste the cupcakes that Ivy makes and feel the shivers that Violet gets when Nick touches her all based on her descriptions. What do you have to lose?
"Sweet Thing" 4 stars I purchased a copy of Sweet Thing a Hale Street Romance by Emily Lehigh in the Hale Street: The Sweet Collection books 1-3 boxset and this review was given freely. A sweet and clean romance. Disatisfied businesswoman and former Debutante Violet tries to fulfill her father's last wishes of revitalizing Hale street during the chaos of her sister's wedding preparations, building the bakery Sugar Babies, getting her chef cousin Ivy to become her partner, trying not to offend her disapproving and controlling mother, trying to be true to herself, and while building a relationship with her carpenter Nick. Interesting and drama packed but a little slow and the first half is a little repetitive. Overall, a good introduction to the people of the series, the strong relationships between the characters while hinting at the possibilities of many sequels.
I think I am going to really like hanging out on Hale Street. Anchored by the Wentworth Hotel, Clayborne's on the Corner, and the Angry Cat bookstore, the first renovation in this neighborhood revitalization project is to create SugarBabies bakery. Everyone needs a delicious treat every now and then.
I love how Violet and Nick just sync. He really 'gets' the concept of the atmosphere that Burke, Daisy and Violet want to create on this Nashville side street. I found it fascinating that he could articulate the neighborhood features that will tie the various individual renovation and historic restoration projects into a cohesive whole. I can't wait for the next books to watch this neighborhood come to life.
I purchased a copy of this story on Amazon and voluntarily chose to share my review.
Violet has just lost her dad and discovered he left her and old building. She is kind of at a crossroad in her life. Her cousin Ivy pops in. She is a baker but is also in a crossroad. Violet decides she is going to open a bakery. Hale Street needs help to revive itself. She finds Nick to do the construction. He is going through things in his life and his family along with the business. They work well together through all the issues that they go through both with their own personal issues and their togetherness issues. Love all the characters and this street sounds like it will end up so wonderful.
I love this series. Many of Amy Knapp’s books center around Hale Street. I have enjoyed all of the various characters/couples. This is the one that started it all. Violet is a strong, confident woman, except with her mother. The recent death of her father, keeps Violet from standing up to her mother; she does not want to cause more pain. Mother does not approve of Violet’s blue collar love interest, Nick. Mother wants Violet to choose a high society mate. Nick is just what Violet needs and she completes him. Everyone, but mom, can see that they are perfect together. I look forward to reading about the revitalization of Hale Street and more couples.
SWEET THINGS by Emily Leigh The 1st in the Hale Street series. Violet learned from her discerning mother what was proper for an elite family. When dad dies, and a ramshackle building is left, on a lifeless street. Her choice of the Sugar Babies Sweet Shop to open there, thought it was all planned. Until Nick comes in, his plans to get the completion of the sweet shop then the rest of Hale Street will fall into place. For her, it would be 10 years of saving if it didn't make a go. Families aren't for them seeing one another. With a wedding, completetion of bakery and Hale Street, is there time for romance. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.
A nice, relaxing story around a group of characters who come together to make their corner of the world better. Fairly predictable but perfect bedtime reading. Have just purchased next book in series.
This was a good story. It is not totally clean, but the intimate scenes were not too graphic. It was a sad reminder that sometimes people think they are better than others and miss out on a lot of love and good times with special people because of it.
Violet inherited properties as did her sister. She wants t to transform one into a bakery. She goes through contractors for some complicated reasons until Nick shows up and sweeps her off her feet. Oh he has it all. Can they make it work?
This book wasn’t a traditional girl meets guy book, this one had depth. The characters were engaging in each other as well as mending their relationships with family. It was a totally relatable story.
Wonderful writing style makes this character driven novel unputdownable. From womens empowerment to finding your true place and your true love, this story shines.
Okay read, the main characters are likeable and have a great connection emotionally and physically. But there are way too many side characters with a very predictable story line.
This is the beginning of a new series titled Hale Street. I was intrigued by the title and the fact that I had not read any previous books by this author. The book centers around VIolet, a woman from a well to do family.Brought up to choose “the right” . She is determined to create her sweets store. Nick comes from a construction family and in order to become partner, he is determined to do a grand job with the construction of Violet’s store. It’s a story about the complexities of family, dreams , overcoming obstacles, and finding love. Looking forward to other stories in Hale Street. I was gifted this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
This is a really sweet story. I loved Violet and how she changed and became stronger over the course of the story. She has a vision and doesn’t let anything stop her. I really loved Nick. I thought his family were much too hard on him for things that happened in the past. I just wanted to shake his brother, Griffen, sometimes. I know he had his own problems, but I really wanted him to open his eyes and see how much Nick had changed. There were lots of good and interesting supporting characters and I really wanted to know what would happen next. I’ve already read the next two books in the series and enjoyed them both. This is the start of a real feel good series. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.