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The Sweetest Thing  By  cover art

The Sweetest Thing

By: Jill Shalvis
Narrated by: Celeste Ciulla
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Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Jill Shalvis has won raves from both fans and fellow authors for her sterling, heartfelt romances. In The Sweetest Thing, Tara returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, her life in shambles. Helping her sisters renovate an inn, she looks to start anew - and meets a handsome sailor who changes everything.

©2011 Jill Shalvis (P)2012 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Hot, sweet, fun, and romantic! Pure pleasure!” (Robyn Carr)

What listeners say about The Sweetest Thing

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    182
  • 4 Stars
    146
  • 3 Stars
    63
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    112
  • 3 Stars
    56
  • 2 Stars
    18
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    166
  • 4 Stars
    134
  • 3 Stars
    48
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    7

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

LOL'ed...at the grocery story

I listen to about a book a week on my iPhone...doing errands...walking the dogs etc.

Usually people think I am listening to music but with this book I laughed out loud...really chuckled. Jill Shalvis does dialogue like very few other romance authors...and this is no exception!

Second in the series of Lucky Harbor. The first two are narrated by the same person who does a nice job with continuity of characters voices (and southern accents (which are often butchered in audio books.

Because of the humour, the pace and the narration I would say this is one of the few books that is better as an audio book...just be warned it may cause embarrassment laughing in strange places!


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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Decent Story With a Few Problems

What did you like best about The Sweetest Thing? What did you like least?

If you are going to write a book about a strong Southern woman, it might actually be a good to research the differences between someone from Texas and the Southern Belle's of Georgia. While the story mentioned more than a few times about the main character being from Texas, the narrator decided instead to drawn upon the likes of Julia Sugarbaker from Designing Women to voice over the character - mixed in with a little Scarlett from Gone with the Wind for good measure.

While that may work for a Southern Belle character from Georgia without being to offensive, not so much the case with those from Texas.

It was bad and yet the author approved the audio recording and allowed it to be released. It killed her story, what could have otherwise been a decent enough love story.

What did you like best about this story?

At heart the coming together of three sisters, struggling to find a way to be a family for the first time in their lives is nice.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

All you can think about during the entire thing was Gone With the Wind and things they said like quite frankly my dear I don't give a damn. The voiceover forth the southern girl character was so bad it was down right comical and actually bordering on offensive, being from Texas myself.

This is not how anyone from Texas or Oklahoma or anywhere other than MAYBE Georgia. It's just ridiculous.

Was The Sweetest Thing worth the listening time?

No, it really wasn't. Perhaps if it was re-released with a different more appropriate southern accent but not as it stands.

Any additional comments?

I think that this audiobook is a lesson learned for authors who don't speak up and say hey publisher, I appreciate what you've done to help my book but this is really not something I can approve of. Can we please find another voice actor?

The author could have stopped this nightmare but she chose not to and as such it reflects badly on her work.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

My Mistake

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, I would not recommend this book. I was disappointed with the narration, the originality and the story.

What could Jill Shalvis have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Been a little more creative.. and limit the times "Oh, hell" was used to convey a character's thought.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

Was The Sweetest Thing worth the listening time?

Not for me.

Any additional comments?

I purchased the book as a 2 for 1 deal and after searching other reviews thought it would be a good choice....wrong, not for me, quite banal.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Don't pay for audiobook

Narrarator was AWFUL! Wish I would have read book instead. Voices done for characters were
so bad I had to fast forward through the story.Ford character sounded like he was going through puberty and an airhead. Tara sounded like she came from the civil war era. I wish I could get a refund!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The narration...had to force myself to finish it.

What did you like best about The Sweetest Thing? What did you like least?

Good story, horrible narration. The voices didn't match, ruined the overall book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Sweetest Thing?

Cute story

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Celeste Ciulla?

Anyone else. She may narrate other books well but I can't listen to her again.

Did The Sweetest Thing inspire you to do anything?

Actually read the book myself.

Any additional comments?

I wish another narrator would redo the second book so I can listen to it!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A simple and easy going listen

Have you listened to any of Celeste Ciulla’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I like that the book is read by the same person.

Any additional comments?

This is not a deep and complex read, but it's still enjoyable.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Series is great.

the next book is in my library ready for me to listen. great author, love it

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story - narrator not right fit

I have wanted to listen to this series for a long time but I’ve held back because of the poor ratings of the first two books due to the narration. I did suffer through this one. It wasn’t as bad as the first book but the narrator just can’t do southern accents or men’s voices. Chloe sounded like some kind of Muppet. It was tough but looking forward to the rest of the series.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

story was good until...

Adult sisters that purposesly interupt a couple who are obviously engaging in an important romantic moment. Not believable!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Did not finish

I tried but could not stay with this one. I think it is the narration. I couldn't believe either of these guys could possibly care a filp for this woman. She must be so good looking they don't care. But that doesn't come across in the story.

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