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Masters of Romance #2
Sweet Thing
Patrick
My name is Patrick Neumann, and I have the world’s worst-kept secret—I’m in love with my boss, Aaron (aka: Nyx), and everyone knows it but him.
You’d think an award-winning romance author would be able to spot his own happily ever after a mile away, but nope. Aaron is clueless. I could show up on his doorstep in a jockstrap with a rose clenched between my teeth and he’d still think I only want to be friends.
Which is why I’ve written myself my own perfect happily ever after and published it under my new secret pen name: Miller Night. It’s seventy thousand words of sweet, steamy romance starring thinly veiled versions of me and Aaron—all my deepest, darkest desires spelled out right there on the page. I haven’t been subtle about it, but I’m not worried. It’s not like Aaron will read it. And even if he does, he’s so oblivious he’ll never figure out that Miller is really me.
Nyx
I’ve read a lot of romance novels in my life, but the one I just finished is the most perfect of all. It’s swoony, sweet, indulgent, and so hot the words almost melt off the page. It’s so good that if I didn’t know better, I’d think it was written just for me.
Best of all, it’s helped distract me from the feelings I shouldn’t be having for my cute blue-haired personal assistant, Patrick.
I don’t know the author who wrote it, but I need to be his friend.
Miller Night, watch out, because I’m going to make you mine.
Sweet Thing is the second book in the Masters of Romance series, where romance authors don’t just write about happily ever afters—they live them. Get ready for love, laughter, and some serious steam. No cheating and no love triangles, guaranteed. This boss/employee, friends to lovers, secret identity rom-com romp of a book can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s way more fun to binge them all. Which author are you most excited to see get his HEA?
My name is Patrick Neumann, and I have the world’s worst-kept secret—I’m in love with my boss, Aaron (aka: Nyx), and everyone knows it but him.
You’d think an award-winning romance author would be able to spot his own happily ever after a mile away, but nope. Aaron is clueless. I could show up on his doorstep in a jockstrap with a rose clenched between my teeth and he’d still think I only want to be friends.
Which is why I’ve written myself my own perfect happily ever after and published it under my new secret pen name: Miller Night. It’s seventy thousand words of sweet, steamy romance starring thinly veiled versions of me and Aaron—all my deepest, darkest desires spelled out right there on the page. I haven’t been subtle about it, but I’m not worried. It’s not like Aaron will read it. And even if he does, he’s so oblivious he’ll never figure out that Miller is really me.
Nyx
I’ve read a lot of romance novels in my life, but the one I just finished is the most perfect of all. It’s swoony, sweet, indulgent, and so hot the words almost melt off the page. It’s so good that if I didn’t know better, I’d think it was written just for me.
Best of all, it’s helped distract me from the feelings I shouldn’t be having for my cute blue-haired personal assistant, Patrick.
I don’t know the author who wrote it, but I need to be his friend.
Miller Night, watch out, because I’m going to make you mine.
Sweet Thing is the second book in the Masters of Romance series, where romance authors don’t just write about happily ever afters—they live them. Get ready for love, laughter, and some serious steam. No cheating and no love triangles, guaranteed. This boss/employee, friends to lovers, secret identity rom-com romp of a book can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s way more fun to binge them all. Which author are you most excited to see get his HEA?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2021
78 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Emma Alcott
13 books216 followersShould you ever find yourself traveling down the gravel street of a quiet forest community in the Midwest, you may come across Emma Alcott--suburbanite by birth, but small-towner by choice.
Emma loves all things doctors say you should only enjoy in moderation, writing the stories of her heart, and traveling. Once upon a time, she fell in love with a man from another country and moved mountains in order to be with him. They've now been married for half a decade and have far too many fur-children.
Seriously.
Do you want a dog?
To stay up to date with Emma's new releases, follow her on Amazon and be sure to subscribe to her newsletter.
If you love Emma's books, you might also enjoy her work as her alter-ego, Piper Scott!
Emma loves all things doctors say you should only enjoy in moderation, writing the stories of her heart, and traveling. Once upon a time, she fell in love with a man from another country and moved mountains in order to be with him. They've now been married for half a decade and have far too many fur-children.
Seriously.
Do you want a dog?
To stay up to date with Emma's new releases, follow her on Amazon and be sure to subscribe to her newsletter.
If you love Emma's books, you might also enjoy her work as her alter-ego, Piper Scott!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
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November 28, 2021dnf @ 32%
i refuse to read book where characters are just oblivious! i hate it. i feel we are wasting so much time. thank you for the fucking frustrations. def one of the worst books out there.
i refuse to read book where characters are just oblivious! i hate it. i feel we are wasting so much time. thank you for the fucking frustrations. def one of the worst books out there.
November 8, 2021
This was...cute?
I enjoyed it for sure. It was sweet and fluffy with no angst or any kind of crisis.
But it also got boring after a while.
The MCs were cute once they got together, and very very hot. But I also struggled to really feel the connection between them as well.
It felt like I was put in the middle of the book whereas it was crucial, for me at meast, to see how they met and some of their routine beforehand.
But we were told that they were attracted to each other and not really shown. Also, Aaron's cluelessness was a bit OTT at times. Comvined with the fact that when Miller was discovered to be Patrick it was anticlimactic.
Micheal's narration was good as always.
June 11, 2022
Sweet is the word. This was so sweet is almost gave me a tooth ache and I loved every second of it.
October 7, 2021
I really wanted to give this 4 stars, because I genuinely enjoyed these two together, and they were just so sweet and made me feel swoony at times.
But...I think at times it was just a little too boring, storywise. And these two, while sweet and sometimes sexy together (once they actually got together), they weren't exactly...holding me to the page all the time.
There also wasn't much story to this. The Aaron/Nyx being oblivious thing was some good story at first, but then it was going on a tad too long - with Patrick taking *forever* to even say anything, and then he never actually says anything. It's others finding out that Patrick wrote the book under a pseud and it's basically all about his feelings for Nyx, and for Nyx to finally realize when he knows Patrick wrote the book...to Nyx and his brothers being the ones to do something.
Also I don't get why Patrick called Nyx Aaron in this. Aaron is obviously Nyx's pen name and all, but Patrick knows him personally, so why wouldn't he use his real name? It doesn't make much sense to me. Especially once they get together. Why does he continue to call him Aaron? It's like with this author's Single Dad Support Group series they wrote under the Piper Scott pen name, where even when the Single Dad's knew each other in person, they would call each other by their usernames and it's like....what? Why? There's an intimacy we didn't get there with Patrick calling him Nyx, instead there's that distance of using his not real name.
I liked Patrick, he was so sweet, but he started to frustrate me with how long he was keeping telling Nyx his feelings off over and over. And I get it, I do. I understand being scared to let yourself out there, but...I'd have liked to have seen him take initiative at some point in this, but he doesn't. Nyx does all of that (with the help of his brothers). And I'm not too annoyed at that, because I understand being scared to tell someone how you feel, but...eventually, in a novel about Nyx being so oblivious that Patrick has to say *something* or nothing will ever happen, you'd think he'd do it...but no.
Nyx finds out another way and does it all himself, so Patrick ends up not having to put himself out there and do the sink or swim thing of telling someone how you feel, the drama of all that...it annoyed me a bit.
Once they got together, the steam was good, but then I started to find it lacking - well, it did a fair bit of fade to black, which was fine in some parts and in others I think we could have gotten more.
Also we spend so much time on the first few days after they got together, and then there was more story, but not much actually happening in that story, and it just continued to be slow at points for me.
Really, Nyx being such an adorable himbo, and the kindest and sweetest guy ever, and these two being so adorable, really saved this for me. I think, if they hadn't been so good together, I would have given this fewer stars. There just was something missing in this story for me.
And I've loved stories where not much happens - hell, the first one in this series didn't have a ton going on and I loved it - so it's not that, but more how the not much happening happened...like while these two were so sweet and adorable together, they didn't exactly carry this at the times when it was slow or not much was happening. It just didn't suck me in, even when not much was happening. Which, if stories are written well and the characters and relationships are written well, I can get past. Not here, because it just didn't quite work here.
So overall...it wasn't quite a win for me. It still was fun and enjoyable at times, and these two were so damn adorable together, and Nyx was a great character, but...it just fell a little flat for me. It was fine. It was enjoyable...but it could have been better, I think, overall.
But...I think at times it was just a little too boring, storywise. And these two, while sweet and sometimes sexy together (once they actually got together), they weren't exactly...holding me to the page all the time.
There also wasn't much story to this. The Aaron/Nyx being oblivious thing was some good story at first, but then it was going on a tad too long - with Patrick taking *forever* to even say anything, and then he never actually says anything. It's others finding out that Patrick wrote the book under a pseud and it's basically all about his feelings for Nyx, and for Nyx to finally realize when he knows Patrick wrote the book...to Nyx and his brothers being the ones to do something.
Also I don't get why Patrick called Nyx Aaron in this. Aaron is obviously Nyx's pen name and all, but Patrick knows him personally, so why wouldn't he use his real name? It doesn't make much sense to me. Especially once they get together. Why does he continue to call him Aaron? It's like with this author's Single Dad Support Group series they wrote under the Piper Scott pen name, where even when the Single Dad's knew each other in person, they would call each other by their usernames and it's like....what? Why? There's an intimacy we didn't get there with Patrick calling him Nyx, instead there's that distance of using his not real name.
I liked Patrick, he was so sweet, but he started to frustrate me with how long he was keeping telling Nyx his feelings off over and over. And I get it, I do. I understand being scared to let yourself out there, but...I'd have liked to have seen him take initiative at some point in this, but he doesn't. Nyx does all of that (with the help of his brothers). And I'm not too annoyed at that, because I understand being scared to tell someone how you feel, but...eventually, in a novel about Nyx being so oblivious that Patrick has to say *something* or nothing will ever happen, you'd think he'd do it...but no.
Nyx finds out another way and does it all himself, so Patrick ends up not having to put himself out there and do the sink or swim thing of telling someone how you feel, the drama of all that...it annoyed me a bit.
Once they got together, the steam was good, but then I started to find it lacking - well, it did a fair bit of fade to black, which was fine in some parts and in others I think we could have gotten more.
Also we spend so much time on the first few days after they got together, and then there was more story, but not much actually happening in that story, and it just continued to be slow at points for me.
Really, Nyx being such an adorable himbo, and the kindest and sweetest guy ever, and these two being so adorable, really saved this for me. I think, if they hadn't been so good together, I would have given this fewer stars. There just was something missing in this story for me.
And I've loved stories where not much happens - hell, the first one in this series didn't have a ton going on and I loved it - so it's not that, but more how the not much happening happened...like while these two were so sweet and adorable together, they didn't exactly carry this at the times when it was slow or not much was happening. It just didn't suck me in, even when not much was happening. Which, if stories are written well and the characters and relationships are written well, I can get past. Not here, because it just didn't quite work here.
So overall...it wasn't quite a win for me. It still was fun and enjoyable at times, and these two were so damn adorable together, and Nyx was a great character, but...it just fell a little flat for me. It was fine. It was enjoyable...but it could have been better, I think, overall.
September 25, 2021
OH MY GOSH. If you want to read the sweetest book between a clumsy cinnamon roll and the DUMBEST, SOFTEST, GENTLE GIANT HIMBO EVER then you must read this book!
Nyx is just the most adorable oblivious man I have ever, ever read about (and I'm comparing him to Hugh from Piper's FD series here! lol) and I absolutely adored his story. I also adored his family - his brothers and his mom all clearly in the know of how perfect Nyx and Patrick are for each other, and just watching their dumb brother go each day without realizing that Patrick is in love with him.
This does stand really well on its own - the masters of romance all do talk to each other, but since they aren't living in the same town, there isn't as much overlap with the characters as some series have. So you could totally jump into this one!
Patrick is just so sweet and easily flustered and just so so in love with his boss. There are some incredible LOL moments that I won't spoil here, but just....the bag OMG.
Definitely get this one when it comes out!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Nyx is just the most adorable oblivious man I have ever, ever read about (and I'm comparing him to Hugh from Piper's FD series here! lol) and I absolutely adored his story. I also adored his family - his brothers and his mom all clearly in the know of how perfect Nyx and Patrick are for each other, and just watching their dumb brother go each day without realizing that Patrick is in love with him.
This does stand really well on its own - the masters of romance all do talk to each other, but since they aren't living in the same town, there isn't as much overlap with the characters as some series have. So you could totally jump into this one!
Patrick is just so sweet and easily flustered and just so so in love with his boss. There are some incredible LOL moments that I won't spoil here, but just....the bag OMG.
Definitely get this one when it comes out!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2021
What a cute series!
I like the repartee within the author group, which Emma Alcott continues in Sweet Thing. I do love the idea of a group of primarily male MM romance writers bouncing ideas off each other and generally meddling in each others' lives. It's very funny.
Patrick and Aaron are great together... both before and after the lovin' begins. The whole lead up to when they finally figure it all out is hilarious. In addition to loads of humor, we also get plenty of steamy hot Emma Alcott romancing. Sweet Thing is well done, cover to cover.
Audio perfectly performed (as always) by Michael Ferraiuolo. His talent truly knows no equal.
an audiobook copy of Sweet Thing was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
I like the repartee within the author group, which Emma Alcott continues in Sweet Thing. I do love the idea of a group of primarily male MM romance writers bouncing ideas off each other and generally meddling in each others' lives. It's very funny.
Patrick and Aaron are great together... both before and after the lovin' begins. The whole lead up to when they finally figure it all out is hilarious. In addition to loads of humor, we also get plenty of steamy hot Emma Alcott romancing. Sweet Thing is well done, cover to cover.
Audio perfectly performed (as always) by Michael Ferraiuolo. His talent truly knows no equal.
an audiobook copy of Sweet Thing was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
October 2, 2021
This is the best book written so far by this side of Piper/Emma!
I loved everything about this. I loved Aaron's family. I loved the coffee shop crew. I loved the author chat. Most of all, I absolutely loved Patrick and Aaron.
Boss/assistant is a trope that can be overdone, but this one is so refreshing and different. My only complaint is that I wish Aaron would have figured it out sooner. I did enjoy how it played out, but I wanted more of their love story and a bit less of their bedroom scenes.
After During the Flight and the beginning of Bad Boy, I'd given up on this pen name. However, the blurb for this book and the fact that it was low angst, gave me a reason to give Emma a second chance and I'm glad I did. Here's hoping the books going forward are just as good.
*I received an ARC, but all thoughts and opinions are my own*
I loved everything about this. I loved Aaron's family. I loved the coffee shop crew. I loved the author chat. Most of all, I absolutely loved Patrick and Aaron.
Boss/assistant is a trope that can be overdone, but this one is so refreshing and different. My only complaint is that I wish Aaron would have figured it out sooner. I did enjoy how it played out, but I wanted more of their love story and a bit less of their bedroom scenes.
After During the Flight and the beginning of Bad Boy, I'd given up on this pen name. However, the blurb for this book and the fact that it was low angst, gave me a reason to give Emma a second chance and I'm glad I did. Here's hoping the books going forward are just as good.
*I received an ARC, but all thoughts and opinions are my own*
January 9, 2022
Absolutely shocked by the high ratings.
This is the first book by this author that I felt just did not work. At all.
Patrick is hopelessly in love with Aaron/Nyx, and Aaron/Nyx has no clue. His oblivious nature was very frustrating and unbelievable. He came off as dumb sometimes, even.
The whole book was just wrong. The characters weren’t good, the writing was lacking, the plot was silly and boring.
From my understanding, Patrick also calls Aaron by his pen name which I think is just really fucking weird. He never stops called him Aaron which is bizarre and uncomfortable.
Even from Aaron’s POV, it never seemed like he was truly into Patrick. This felt very one-sided for that reason, which made Aaron and Patrick getting together seem forced.
The sex was meh, the characters were meh, the story was meh.
This was a skimmable book. Just nothing there to grab me or interest me.
I really did not like one thing about this book. Nothing worked here.
This is the first book by this author that I felt just did not work. At all.
Patrick is hopelessly in love with Aaron/Nyx, and Aaron/Nyx has no clue. His oblivious nature was very frustrating and unbelievable. He came off as dumb sometimes, even.
The whole book was just wrong. The characters weren’t good, the writing was lacking, the plot was silly and boring.
From my understanding, Patrick also calls Aaron by his pen name which I think is just really fucking weird. He never stops called him Aaron which is bizarre and uncomfortable.
Even from Aaron’s POV, it never seemed like he was truly into Patrick. This felt very one-sided for that reason, which made Aaron and Patrick getting together seem forced.
The sex was meh, the characters were meh, the story was meh.
This was a skimmable book. Just nothing there to grab me or interest me.
I really did not like one thing about this book. Nothing worked here.
October 9, 2021
4,5
It was so sweet and I loved reading it. Two obnoxious character, madly in love with the other while they haven't got a clue the other loves them back too!
I love this series, romance authors finding their HEA. It's fun to see them navigate in real life while they writing their romance stories so easily.
We got one author (Aaron/Nyx) and his PA (Patrick). Both were super sweet and loved how shy Patrick was when it came to Aaron. And how amazing it was when he found his confidence later. Aaron was cute too and I really liked how blind he was to everything around him, he needed his friends and brothers help to see clearly.
The story was both fun and lovely. It was full on romance with sparkling erotica. Really enjoyed reading the book and can't wait the next!
Oh, and my favorite scene was no doubt the big love gesture Aaron did to Patrick. So so swoon worthy!
It was so sweet and I loved reading it. Two obnoxious character, madly in love with the other while they haven't got a clue the other loves them back too!
I love this series, romance authors finding their HEA. It's fun to see them navigate in real life while they writing their romance stories so easily.
We got one author (Aaron/Nyx) and his PA (Patrick). Both were super sweet and loved how shy Patrick was when it came to Aaron. And how amazing it was when he found his confidence later. Aaron was cute too and I really liked how blind he was to everything around him, he needed his friends and brothers help to see clearly.
The story was both fun and lovely. It was full on romance with sparkling erotica. Really enjoyed reading the book and can't wait the next!
Oh, and my favorite scene was no doubt the big love gesture Aaron did to Patrick. So so swoon worthy!
September 29, 2021
Wow this was a super unique read.. From just the beginning chapters I was touched by the premise that someone unknown and insecure about his talents could write an honest romance book straight from his heart and that book would, even with him as a unknown touch enough people be a number one seller! SIGH! that is truth in romance! Patrick and Aaron are wonderful characters along with a fun loving cast of family & friends to back them up! Especially Aaron's Muscled Brothers!! This story is laugh out loud funny, sweet and smart, with a slow burn romance you cannot stop reading about! Aaron really is so oblivious! I received an ARC of this book and recommend to everyone who wants to laugh, swoon and just feel happy!
October 10, 2021
This was one of those books that just had you smiling all the way through! Patrick is a bumbling fool around his boss, Aaron (Nyx), but is secretly in love with him. With no outlet for his feelings, Patrick assumes a pen name and puts all of his feelings on paper and ends up with a best selling novel....one that Aaron cannot get enough of! It's comical seeing Patrick try to navigate his personal and professional lives when they seem to be interconnecting. Aaron is so clueless as to what has been right in front of him all along...but when he catches on....it's smoking HOT!
November 12, 2021
Oh I really loved this book! It was so much fun and sweet, just what you need to feel good and and have great time. Boss/PA is a favorite trope of mine and the fact that both Patrick and Aaron were authors made it even more entertaining to me. They had great chemistry and they were adorable together. I also loved Aaron's family and the group chat with the other authors! This was a great addition to the series and I can't wait for the next book.The narrator was brilliant as always, he really brought the characters to life.
September 25, 2021
So much fun!
Aaron/Nyx is so frustratingly oblivious (in a good way) for a good section of the book and Patrick, his assistant, is trying to reveal his feelings but is too shy.
A lot of sweetness, a fair amount of laughs and a crazy slow burn.
The other Masters of Romance appear in the Discord chat but it's Nyx's brothers that steal the show. They push the two together with a super cute plan and some bets.
Different in tone to book 1 and could probably be read as a standalone
Aaron/Nyx is so frustratingly oblivious (in a good way) for a good section of the book and Patrick, his assistant, is trying to reveal his feelings but is too shy.
A lot of sweetness, a fair amount of laughs and a crazy slow burn.
The other Masters of Romance appear in the Discord chat but it's Nyx's brothers that steal the show. They push the two together with a super cute plan and some bets.
Different in tone to book 1 and could probably be read as a standalone
October 5, 2021
I spent a lot of time LMAO while I was reading this book. Nyx and Patrick are both really sweet, and both have so much love to give, but they are both kinda oblivious. OK, NYX is freaking oblivious. He's so oblivious that Patrick had to write a book that was a love letter to Nyx called Oblivious.
I just laughed at the two of them, and the antics of their friends and family. Nyx's brothers are ridiculous and enjoyable.
I just laughed at the two of them, and the antics of their friends and family. Nyx's brothers are ridiculous and enjoyable.
October 10, 2021
I absolutely loved this book - slow burn, sweet shy PA and totally clueless himbo author stumbling around each other. I loved how everyone else around them had at least inklings but no one clued Aaron in... waiting for Patrick to make his move...
This book is a going to be a classic re-read for me when I need all the feels in a sweet thing way...
This book is a going to be a classic re-read for me when I need all the feels in a sweet thing way...
November 10, 2021
The title says it all , this is a very sweet tale. Full of gooey, fluffy tender loving and steamy scenes. A
very good book to listen when one wants to escape from reality for a while.
Michael Ferraiuolo narration was engaging and entertaining.
very good book to listen when one wants to escape from reality for a while.
Michael Ferraiuolo narration was engaging and entertaining.
June 28, 2025
Tiene un montón de partes muy poco realistas y es obvio que los protagonistas atraen entre sí desde el primer segundo y lo alargan por muchas páginas pero es lindo, está lleno de azúcar y mucha felicidad y lo disfruté.
November 12, 2021
A very cute and funny story, I really enjoyed the premise... a gay romance writer's assistant is oblivious to his being in love with him and writes a book about it. Patrick and Aaron were great together and I had a TON of laughs leading up to the final moment when Aaron is basically hit over the head with understanding, once there were actually together, I got bored.
The couple was sweet together and it was fun to see them interact as an actual couple, but I was over the brothers betting on everything, over them getting involved, etc.
The couple was sweet together and it was fun to see them interact as an actual couple, but I was over the brothers betting on everything, over them getting involved, etc.
Read
August 6, 2022DNF @ ~55%
This book has a cute premise but (as bad as it sounds) I just don’t care enough to keep reading to see what happens.
This book has a cute premise but (as bad as it sounds) I just don’t care enough to keep reading to see what happens.
October 18, 2021
This book was so much fun to read, even if one of the main characters was so stupidly clueless that I thought it would irritate me - but it's so well written that the sweetness and adorableness overcome any irritation!
I do have a warning for readers though - this book is likely to give you cravings for bakery goods... just warning you.
I adored the wider cast of characters including the other authors and the brothers - it made for some really fun dialogue and interactions.
A really fun and sweet read.
I do have a warning for readers though - this book is likely to give you cravings for bakery goods... just warning you.
I adored the wider cast of characters including the other authors and the brothers - it made for some really fun dialogue and interactions.
A really fun and sweet read.
October 12, 2021
**ARC Review**
I really enjoyed this sweet thing. Nyx and Patrick were too adorable for words. The ideal perfect couple. This book is an entire lead up to their forever after and I had a fun time with Nyx in a state of oblivion and Patrick trying to get up the nerve to express his feelings. Nyx brothers(especially Jagger) were a hoot and I loved the writer friends. So when the smoke actually clears and everyone knows everything that's when more sweetness come in plus a big ol dose of HOTNESS. Nyx and Patrick are compatible in all ways and OMG, I was happy as ever that things work out splendidly for the guys. This was worth the chance with no regrets and definitely a 5 star read.
I really enjoyed this sweet thing. Nyx and Patrick were too adorable for words. The ideal perfect couple. This book is an entire lead up to their forever after and I had a fun time with Nyx in a state of oblivion and Patrick trying to get up the nerve to express his feelings. Nyx brothers(especially Jagger) were a hoot and I loved the writer friends. So when the smoke actually clears and everyone knows everything that's when more sweetness come in plus a big ol dose of HOTNESS. Nyx and Patrick are compatible in all ways and OMG, I was happy as ever that things work out splendidly for the guys. This was worth the chance with no regrets and definitely a 5 star read.
September 17, 2022
I absolutely adored this. So bloody hilarious. Nyx is definitely the dimmest light bulb in the box, he has no clues, and Patrick is so awkward and backward in coming forward. Together they're perfect. It took a while, and a load of shenanigans to get there, accompanied by so many laughs. But what a ride hot, hot ,hot! And Aaron is indeed a precious bean.
Nyx's brothers deserve a book each, they're such characters, and I can't wait to read the stories of the remaining authors. Such a sweet and upbeat read. Loved it, totally a read for these miserable times.
Nyx's brothers deserve a book each, they're such characters, and I can't wait to read the stories of the remaining authors. Such a sweet and upbeat read. Loved it, totally a read for these miserable times.
March 14, 2022
soooooooo i’ve read a lot of reviews saying that the MC was too oblivious. they were right. BUT.
i love a good himbo.
i think that the author could’ve added a bit more to the plot, but it was good.
i’ll definitely read the other books in this series.
i love a good himbo.
i think that the author could’ve added a bit more to the plot, but it was good.
i’ll definitely read the other books in this series.
September 29, 2021
What do you get when you combine a himbo author and a shy personal assistant? Magic. You get magic. And that is what Emma Alcott has here with Sweet Thing - the second Masters of Romance novel.
I enjoyed the first Masters of Romance novel. This one though? This one I loved so much that one of my friends who doens't even read this genre was getting a running commentary, complete with snippets of hilarious dialogue, because the book was making me so happy that I had to share it with SOMEONE. But now that we know how much I loved this book, let's get into the why.
Sweet Thing is the story of Nyx, a great big lovable himbo who moonlights as author Aaron Upton, and his personal assistant, Patrick - a shy, awkward, and incredibly lovable thing who also happens to moonlight as first time author Miller Night. In fact, he wrote his debut novel - which quickly burns through the Amazon charts - about his feelings for Nyx. He needed to get them out. He just didn't expect them to be so well recieved by the general public. He really didn't expect for Nyx to become practically obsessed with becoming Miller's friend or requesting his help to do so.
The whole first half read like a Shakespearean comedy of errors and I was HERE for it.
Both of the main characters were so lovable and precious and honestly, I will fight someone to protect Nyx. I didn't realize that I was missing out on a lovable himbo character until one was placed right in front of me, making me cringe in secondhand embarassment from the very obvious things he was missing, and making me wish that I could just shrink him down and put him in my pocket for safe keeping. Patrick was equally adorable - tripping over his words every time he went to make a confession to Nyx, and often times tripping into other things.
And the side characters? Sweet Thing is dripping with rich side characters that enhance the flavor of this text. From the raucous but loving Cosgrove brothers - Nyx's four brothers - to the snarky barista Morgan that Patrick befriends, they all felt real and colorful and alive and breathed amazingness into the story. And the other authors in the Masters of Romance discord? I need more of their stories. Specifically, I want to read a book about Dash because I just need more of that snarky, sarcastic bean.
So would I recommend Sweet Thing?
Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes. Enthusiastically and happily and probably shouting at the top of my lungs.
This book is steamy in the right areas, fluffier than a cloud, has the most mild angst possible, and hits pretty much all my buttons just the right way. There is even a wonderful discussion about the inherent power inequality of Nyx being Patrick's boss. This book had everything. The only thing I didn't like was that it ended and my time with these amazing main characters had to end.
I will be revisiting.
** ARC PROVIDED BY GRR FOR HONEST REVIEW **
I enjoyed the first Masters of Romance novel. This one though? This one I loved so much that one of my friends who doens't even read this genre was getting a running commentary, complete with snippets of hilarious dialogue, because the book was making me so happy that I had to share it with SOMEONE. But now that we know how much I loved this book, let's get into the why.
Sweet Thing is the story of Nyx, a great big lovable himbo who moonlights as author Aaron Upton, and his personal assistant, Patrick - a shy, awkward, and incredibly lovable thing who also happens to moonlight as first time author Miller Night. In fact, he wrote his debut novel - which quickly burns through the Amazon charts - about his feelings for Nyx. He needed to get them out. He just didn't expect them to be so well recieved by the general public. He really didn't expect for Nyx to become practically obsessed with becoming Miller's friend or requesting his help to do so.
The whole first half read like a Shakespearean comedy of errors and I was HERE for it.
Both of the main characters were so lovable and precious and honestly, I will fight someone to protect Nyx. I didn't realize that I was missing out on a lovable himbo character until one was placed right in front of me, making me cringe in secondhand embarassment from the very obvious things he was missing, and making me wish that I could just shrink him down and put him in my pocket for safe keeping. Patrick was equally adorable - tripping over his words every time he went to make a confession to Nyx, and often times tripping into other things.
And the side characters? Sweet Thing is dripping with rich side characters that enhance the flavor of this text. From the raucous but loving Cosgrove brothers - Nyx's four brothers - to the snarky barista Morgan that Patrick befriends, they all felt real and colorful and alive and breathed amazingness into the story. And the other authors in the Masters of Romance discord? I need more of their stories. Specifically, I want to read a book about Dash because I just need more of that snarky, sarcastic bean.
So would I recommend Sweet Thing?
Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes. Enthusiastically and happily and probably shouting at the top of my lungs.
This book is steamy in the right areas, fluffier than a cloud, has the most mild angst possible, and hits pretty much all my buttons just the right way. There is even a wonderful discussion about the inherent power inequality of Nyx being Patrick's boss. This book had everything. The only thing I didn't like was that it ended and my time with these amazing main characters had to end.
I will be revisiting.
** ARC PROVIDED BY GRR FOR HONEST REVIEW **
October 6, 2021
Oh my gosh I loved this book! Seriously, this was the perfect sweet, silly, endearing, light-hearted, low-angst read to warm the cockles of my heart. I usually like angst in my reads, but oh! It was so lovely to read this, without a drop of truly gut-wrenching angst. Any "angst" that is present is couched in sweet sincerity and hilarity that you smile right through the tension.
Patrick is in love with his boss, Aaron, who writes sweet romances under the name Nyx. Aaron is completely clueless to Patrick's literal heart eyes, and it pains Patrick's little gay heart to no end. To get out his love somehow, Patrick wrote a boss-employee romance with characters that are thinly veiled versions of Patrick and Aaron. The book, written under a pen name, becomes wildly successful. Aaron is a huge fan and reaches out to the author, seeking friendship, not knowing that it's actually Patrick.
Patrick, the lovesick fool that he is, plays both sides to make Aaron happy -- helping him out as an assistant and then responding positively as his author alter ego to Aaron's inquiries and proposals to work together. It's adorable and so silly.
Aaron is oblivious, to the point of absurdity, and I think if this book wasn't so sweet through and through, I would have gotten annoyed at how much he misses (from Patrick and from his own family who very much know Patrick is in love with Aaron). But I was just delighted to be along for the ride.
Now, in most books where there's a secret identity being kept from one of the main characters, there is a lot of strong, negative emotion that goes along with the discovery of the secret. I enjoyed the tension that built to how and when Aaron would find out the truth behind not only Patrick's feelings but his identity as the author Aaron wanted to be friends with (these go hand in hand, as Patrick's book is basically a love letter to Aaron). It was entertaining to read Patrick fumble around Aaron and Aaron good-heartedly misinterpret that fluster for anything other than attraction and adoration.
Luckily for me and you, the discovery of the ruse does not mean heartbreak or angst. It's all happy and lovely and perfect for the tone of this book, which is syrupy sweet lovey-dovey happiness. Seriously. I was so happy reading this book, because it's amazing.
Aaron's group of author friends (the series titular "masters of romance") also has a great presence, which I really liked. The interactions with them clearly set up the next book, but it's not my favorite yet, but I can be patient.
I wasn't a huge fan of the book before this one, but I am so glad I stuck around to read this, because it was sunshine perfection and a delight to read.
| I received an ARC, and this is my honest, freely given review. |
Patrick is in love with his boss, Aaron, who writes sweet romances under the name Nyx. Aaron is completely clueless to Patrick's literal heart eyes, and it pains Patrick's little gay heart to no end. To get out his love somehow, Patrick wrote a boss-employee romance with characters that are thinly veiled versions of Patrick and Aaron. The book, written under a pen name, becomes wildly successful. Aaron is a huge fan and reaches out to the author, seeking friendship, not knowing that it's actually Patrick.
Patrick, the lovesick fool that he is, plays both sides to make Aaron happy -- helping him out as an assistant and then responding positively as his author alter ego to Aaron's inquiries and proposals to work together. It's adorable and so silly.
Aaron is oblivious, to the point of absurdity, and I think if this book wasn't so sweet through and through, I would have gotten annoyed at how much he misses (from Patrick and from his own family who very much know Patrick is in love with Aaron). But I was just delighted to be along for the ride.
Now, in most books where there's a secret identity being kept from one of the main characters, there is a lot of strong, negative emotion that goes along with the discovery of the secret. I enjoyed the tension that built to how and when Aaron would find out the truth behind not only Patrick's feelings but his identity as the author Aaron wanted to be friends with (these go hand in hand, as Patrick's book is basically a love letter to Aaron). It was entertaining to read Patrick fumble around Aaron and Aaron good-heartedly misinterpret that fluster for anything other than attraction and adoration.
Luckily for me and you, the discovery of the ruse does not mean heartbreak or angst. It's all happy and lovely and perfect for the tone of this book, which is syrupy sweet lovey-dovey happiness. Seriously. I was so happy reading this book, because it's amazing.
Aaron's group of author friends (the series titular "masters of romance") also has a great presence, which I really liked. The interactions with them clearly set up the next book, but it's not my favorite yet, but I can be patient.
I wasn't a huge fan of the book before this one, but I am so glad I stuck around to read this, because it was sunshine perfection and a delight to read.
| I received an ARC, and this is my honest, freely given review. |
November 16, 2021
A Delightfully Sweet Romance! Awesome Narration🎧
Sweet Thing
A Masters of Romance Novel, Book Two
By: Emma Alcott
Narrated by: Michael Ferraiuolo
I enjoyed this book immensely, the story is original with interesting storylines that captivated my attention from start to end. The characters are easy to relate to and connect with, they were easy to like and care about too, though I did want to scream at them to just say it. The characters are easy to relate to and connect with, they were easy to like and care about too, though I wanted to scream at them to just share what they were feeling about the other. Patrick Neumann has been Aaron aka Nyx’s personal assistant for about a year now, he has fallen in love with him but not only does Aaron have no clue but Patrick does not know how to tell him so. So he writes their story and gives it the perfect HEA ending, titling the book Oblivious and then publishing it under the pen name, Miller Night. Aaron and his author friends talk about the book in discord and are wondering who this new author is. Aaron is so impressed with it and the writing that he wants to cowrite a book with him. Patrick never saw this coming, he will have to come clean about the book but can only do so after he tells him how feels about him. This a fabulously sweet, slow burn romance novel, the story is wonderfully plotted with the perfect balance of drama, humor, and romance. I loved the meddling brothers and the witty dialogue. Emma Alcott, thank you for another entertaining and enjoyable story.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Emma Alcott cast the perfect narrator to bring her characters and story to life. Michael Ferraiuolo is a talented narrator and versatile voice artist. He had a complete understanding of the characters he portrayed, giving each a voice that fit that character’s persona, sounding believable in every role he played and just as I pictured the character to sound. He set the perfect tone for the story, handled all the witty dialogue effortlessly and landed the humor without missing a beat. You could hear how much heart he puts into his work as he captured the characters’ emotions and projected them into his performance. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another exceptional listen.
Thank you GRR
Sweet Thing
A Masters of Romance Novel, Book Two
By: Emma Alcott
Narrated by: Michael Ferraiuolo
I enjoyed this book immensely, the story is original with interesting storylines that captivated my attention from start to end. The characters are easy to relate to and connect with, they were easy to like and care about too, though I did want to scream at them to just say it. The characters are easy to relate to and connect with, they were easy to like and care about too, though I wanted to scream at them to just share what they were feeling about the other. Patrick Neumann has been Aaron aka Nyx’s personal assistant for about a year now, he has fallen in love with him but not only does Aaron have no clue but Patrick does not know how to tell him so. So he writes their story and gives it the perfect HEA ending, titling the book Oblivious and then publishing it under the pen name, Miller Night. Aaron and his author friends talk about the book in discord and are wondering who this new author is. Aaron is so impressed with it and the writing that he wants to cowrite a book with him. Patrick never saw this coming, he will have to come clean about the book but can only do so after he tells him how feels about him. This a fabulously sweet, slow burn romance novel, the story is wonderfully plotted with the perfect balance of drama, humor, and romance. I loved the meddling brothers and the witty dialogue. Emma Alcott, thank you for another entertaining and enjoyable story.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Emma Alcott cast the perfect narrator to bring her characters and story to life. Michael Ferraiuolo is a talented narrator and versatile voice artist. He had a complete understanding of the characters he portrayed, giving each a voice that fit that character’s persona, sounding believable in every role he played and just as I pictured the character to sound. He set the perfect tone for the story, handled all the witty dialogue effortlessly and landed the humor without missing a beat. You could hear how much heart he puts into his work as he captured the characters’ emotions and projected them into his performance. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another exceptional listen.
Thank you GRR
October 6, 2021
This book is aptly titled: there’s plenty of sweetness, in the form of obvious pining, oblivious love interests, and elaborately conceived, terribly deployed plans for grand declarations of love. It’s cuteness on a whole new level, and Patrick and Aaron/Nyx take the “awww” factor to some serious extremes. I liked, very much, the will they/ won’t they, which subsisted entirely because Nyx has the observational powers of a hibernating bear. The “help” his squad of irrepressible brothers tries to offer is funny and caring and completely ridiculous: they’re great supporting characters, as is Patrick’s barista bestie. I have less kind things to say about Nyx’s writing buddies, however: they articulate why it’s not cool to dox someone’s pen name, and then they...do it anyway? Uh...no thanks.
Ultimately, there are really two love stories at work in this book: the trope-tastic boss/employee, obviously requited pining, mistaken identity, friends-help-you-get-your-person extravaganza that is Patrick and Nyx and the meta-discourse the author is working in about what it means to be a twenty-first century romance author. It’s not only the characters’ profession here, it’s a way of life, and Patrick and Nyx’s real life is discussed and treated like a novel, in the novel. It’s mostly charming, if a bit much at times-- not so much the metadiscourse, although a little of that goes a long way, but more the focus on all the moving pieces writing entails (promos, writing sprints, slack chats, cover design, what number you need to hit in order to have a bestseller by Amazon standards). Write what you know is clearly something the author is leaning into here, but if this isn’t your job, it can get a bit dry/ overly detailed at times. On the other hand, it’s clear that contemporary writing and publishing takes a lot of work, much of which I’d never thought about, so I also have a newfound respect for what went into this book!
Overall, a fun read, with plenty of sweetness and steam.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ultimately, there are really two love stories at work in this book: the trope-tastic boss/employee, obviously requited pining, mistaken identity, friends-help-you-get-your-person extravaganza that is Patrick and Nyx and the meta-discourse the author is working in about what it means to be a twenty-first century romance author. It’s not only the characters’ profession here, it’s a way of life, and Patrick and Nyx’s real life is discussed and treated like a novel, in the novel. It’s mostly charming, if a bit much at times-- not so much the metadiscourse, although a little of that goes a long way, but more the focus on all the moving pieces writing entails (promos, writing sprints, slack chats, cover design, what number you need to hit in order to have a bestseller by Amazon standards). Write what you know is clearly something the author is leaning into here, but if this isn’t your job, it can get a bit dry/ overly detailed at times. On the other hand, it’s clear that contemporary writing and publishing takes a lot of work, much of which I’d never thought about, so I also have a newfound respect for what went into this book!
Overall, a fun read, with plenty of sweetness and steam.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 22, 2021
Boss/employee has never been so fun (an audio review)
I adore Emma Alcott. First of all, her text discussions between the Masters of Romance authors are a hoot. The all-male group are supportive of each other and their career highs and lows in the gay romance industry (and m/f as well). Being an author myself, I know only some of the pitfalls. I’m learning a ton from this series. Anyway, the conversations are so funny, reminiscent of the Piper Scott created chats in the Single Dad group – only without the mpreg.
This book was especially sweet (see how I snuck the title in…?) Patrick has been in love with Nyx forever and ever and ever. Since Nyx first interviewed him for the job as author assistant. Nyx writes gay romances and counts on Patrick to do all the administrative tasks so he can focus on writing. Don’t we all wish we could have such devoted employees. Patrick takes that love to a new level when he writes a gay romance of his own – thinly veiled as a boss/employee book – quite a popular trope. Nyx reads the book and has to reach out to the author – hence the hijinks begin.
Now, I have to say Nyx’s family is a hoot as well. All those brothers! I have two and that’s more than enough, thank you very much. How their mother corrals them, I’ll never know. Oh, wait, she runs the garage where most of them work. Keeping it in the family.
I knew the men would get together, but there were plenty of hurdles to overcome. Because inevitably Nyx was going to learn the identity of the new romance author he admires. And, of course, Patrick was going to have to figure out how to make the new relationship work.
They did. All ended well, and I got my happily ever after. Yay!
Michael Ferraiuolo narrates this series and I just think he’s brilliant. Somehow, he keeps all the voices straight (or gay) and delivers a fantastic performance. There are more books to come and I can’t wait to see who gets their HEA next.
I adore Emma Alcott. First of all, her text discussions between the Masters of Romance authors are a hoot. The all-male group are supportive of each other and their career highs and lows in the gay romance industry (and m/f as well). Being an author myself, I know only some of the pitfalls. I’m learning a ton from this series. Anyway, the conversations are so funny, reminiscent of the Piper Scott created chats in the Single Dad group – only without the mpreg.
This book was especially sweet (see how I snuck the title in…?) Patrick has been in love with Nyx forever and ever and ever. Since Nyx first interviewed him for the job as author assistant. Nyx writes gay romances and counts on Patrick to do all the administrative tasks so he can focus on writing. Don’t we all wish we could have such devoted employees. Patrick takes that love to a new level when he writes a gay romance of his own – thinly veiled as a boss/employee book – quite a popular trope. Nyx reads the book and has to reach out to the author – hence the hijinks begin.
Now, I have to say Nyx’s family is a hoot as well. All those brothers! I have two and that’s more than enough, thank you very much. How their mother corrals them, I’ll never know. Oh, wait, she runs the garage where most of them work. Keeping it in the family.
I knew the men would get together, but there were plenty of hurdles to overcome. Because inevitably Nyx was going to learn the identity of the new romance author he admires. And, of course, Patrick was going to have to figure out how to make the new relationship work.
They did. All ended well, and I got my happily ever after. Yay!
Michael Ferraiuolo narrates this series and I just think he’s brilliant. Somehow, he keeps all the voices straight (or gay) and delivers a fantastic performance. There are more books to come and I can’t wait to see who gets their HEA next.
November 10, 2021
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
No angst, sweet, slow burn romance!
It’s been a long time since I’ve read such a sweet, slow burn romance with absolutely no angst to speak of (except what I created in my mind waiting for something to happen).
This is the third book I’ve read in the series (including Side Character) and I’ve loved all of them. I really enjoy all of the author stuff discussed. I enjoy speculating about how much of it is true to life for the actual author, Emma Alcott.
There are a lot of things about this particular book in the series that remind me of the Single Dad Support Group series by her alter-ego Piper Scott (I loved that series). The dialogue is witty and I especially enjoy the conversations between the other authors in the story when they chat in the Discord server. Michael Ferraiuolo’s performance of this story is fantastic. I love all of the different voices he uses for the characters.
At 25% into the story there is a scene about throat relaxer that is so hilarious I thought I’d die laughing. It was so funny that I had to let my hubby listen to it because he wondered what was going on. There’s no sex until about 60% into the story but once Patrick and Nyx get going look out; they have a banging good time. (You’ll have to read the book to understand that reference. LOL)
Patrick is from Ohio and being an Ohio born gal myself I had to snicker at the remarks about Ohioans and sex bags. I’m not saying anything else about that; you need to read the book for yourself.
One more thing, Nyx’s brothers add a great deal to this story and I can see each of them having books of their own, even if they’re not gay or bi.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
No angst, sweet, slow burn romance!
It’s been a long time since I’ve read such a sweet, slow burn romance with absolutely no angst to speak of (except what I created in my mind waiting for something to happen).
This is the third book I’ve read in the series (including Side Character) and I’ve loved all of them. I really enjoy all of the author stuff discussed. I enjoy speculating about how much of it is true to life for the actual author, Emma Alcott.
There are a lot of things about this particular book in the series that remind me of the Single Dad Support Group series by her alter-ego Piper Scott (I loved that series). The dialogue is witty and I especially enjoy the conversations between the other authors in the story when they chat in the Discord server. Michael Ferraiuolo’s performance of this story is fantastic. I love all of the different voices he uses for the characters.
At 25% into the story there is a scene about throat relaxer that is so hilarious I thought I’d die laughing. It was so funny that I had to let my hubby listen to it because he wondered what was going on. There’s no sex until about 60% into the story but once Patrick and Nyx get going look out; they have a banging good time. (You’ll have to read the book to understand that reference. LOL)
Patrick is from Ohio and being an Ohio born gal myself I had to snicker at the remarks about Ohioans and sex bags. I’m not saying anything else about that; you need to read the book for yourself.
One more thing, Nyx’s brothers add a great deal to this story and I can see each of them having books of their own, even if they’re not gay or bi.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
October 6, 2021
No angst, sweet, slow burn romance!
It’s been a long time since I’ve read such a sweet, slow burn romance with absolutely no angst to speak of (except what I created in my mind waiting for something to happen).
This is the third book I’ve read in the series (including Side Character) and I’ve loved all of them. I really enjoy all of the author stuff discussed. I enjoy speculating about how much of it is true to life for the actual author, Emma Alcott.
There are a lot of things about this particular book in the series that remind me of the Single Dad Support Group series by her alter-ego Piper Scott (I loved that series). The dialogue is witty and I especially enjoy the conversations between the other authors in the story when they chat in the Discord server. If Michael Ferraiuolo does this audiobook, it should be fantastic.
At 25% into the story there is a scene about throat relaxer that is so hilarious I thought I’d die laughing. It was so funny that I had to read it out loud to my hubby because he wondered what was going on. There’s no sex until about 60% into the story but once Patrick and Nyx get going look out; they have a banging good time. (You’ll have to read the book to understand that reference. LOL)
Patrick is from Ohio and being an Ohio born gal myself I had to snicker at the remarks about Ohioans and sex bags. I’m not saying anything else about that; you need to read the book for yourself.
One more thing, Nyx’s brothers add a great deal to this story and I can see each of them having books of their own, even if they’re not gay or bi.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read such a sweet, slow burn romance with absolutely no angst to speak of (except what I created in my mind waiting for something to happen).
This is the third book I’ve read in the series (including Side Character) and I’ve loved all of them. I really enjoy all of the author stuff discussed. I enjoy speculating about how much of it is true to life for the actual author, Emma Alcott.
There are a lot of things about this particular book in the series that remind me of the Single Dad Support Group series by her alter-ego Piper Scott (I loved that series). The dialogue is witty and I especially enjoy the conversations between the other authors in the story when they chat in the Discord server. If Michael Ferraiuolo does this audiobook, it should be fantastic.
At 25% into the story there is a scene about throat relaxer that is so hilarious I thought I’d die laughing. It was so funny that I had to read it out loud to my hubby because he wondered what was going on. There’s no sex until about 60% into the story but once Patrick and Nyx get going look out; they have a banging good time. (You’ll have to read the book to understand that reference. LOL)
Patrick is from Ohio and being an Ohio born gal myself I had to snicker at the remarks about Ohioans and sex bags. I’m not saying anything else about that; you need to read the book for yourself.
One more thing, Nyx’s brothers add a great deal to this story and I can see each of them having books of their own, even if they’re not gay or bi.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
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