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Cypress Hollow Yarn #3
Wishes and Stitches
It has always been Naomi Fontaine’s dream to practice small-town medicine—an ambition that brought her to Cypress Hollow, the charming, tight-knit community her late friend, knitting guru Eliza Carpenter, loved so well. But no matter how hard she tries, Naomi can’t seem to fit in here. Then rugged Rig Keller moves in to take over half of Naomi’s medical practice, and instantly charms everyone in town . . . including Naomi.
Rig saw what a broken relationship did to his brother, and has no interest whatsoever in getting serious. But the temptation to play doctor with his new partner is just too strong to resist. Any chance they might have of being truly knit together by love, however, depends entirely on what secrets they are willing to reveal . . . and on Rig’s willingness to risk his heart and Naomi’s desire to open hers completely.
Rig saw what a broken relationship did to his brother, and has no interest whatsoever in getting serious. But the temptation to play doctor with his new partner is just too strong to resist. Any chance they might have of being truly knit together by love, however, depends entirely on what secrets they are willing to reveal . . . and on Rig’s willingness to risk his heart and Naomi’s desire to open hers completely.
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2011
71 people are currently reading
951 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Herron
53 books898 followersUnofficial bio: Rachael eats way too many Cadbury Creme eggs, no matter time of year it is. She lives with a menagerie, and battles dog hair on a full-time basis. She's a Knitter with a capital-K, and she reads WAY more than she'd ever even think about exercising.
Official bio: Rachael Herron (RH Herron) is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller, mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board. She’s a New Zealand citizen as well as an American.
Find her at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rachael.Herr...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rachaelherron
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachaelherron
Blog: http://rachaelherron.com/blog
Official bio: Rachael Herron (RH Herron) is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller, mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board. She’s a New Zealand citizen as well as an American.
Find her at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rachael.Herr...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rachaelherron
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachaelherron
Blog: http://rachaelherron.com/blog
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 25, 2020
This was a first read for me from this author. Not being a knitting person,I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. The story line moved right along with some interesting twists and the characters were easy to like or not.
I did not expect steamy romance but guess what? Knitting can be sexy. Who knew?
I did not expect steamy romance but guess what? Knitting can be sexy. Who knew?
May 15, 2012
Dr Naomi Fontaine might have made a huge mistake in moving to Cypress Hollow. The townsfolk are wary of her and even after months of being the only doctor in town and eating at the same diner every morning, nobody has really warmed up to her. Not that she can blame them . . . Naomi knows that while she’s a great doctor, her bedside manner leaves a little something to be desired. She can’t do chit-chat or idle small-talk; she’s painfully shy and in the past that aloofness has come across as stuck-up.
Naomi could have helped herself if she’d just explained the reason she moved to Cypress Hollow in the first place – Eliza Carpenter. The famed knitter and writer was Naomi’s patient, and eventually a very dear friend . . . until she died of cancer. But in the months that they’d had to grow close to one another, Eliza spoke constantly of Cypress Hollow – and instilled a great wish in Naomi to move to the little town and call it home. Naomi started out with high-hopes for the Hollow – and even opened a free clinic, in honour of her deceased father; a doctor who Naomi loved dearly, so much so that she followed in his footsteps.
But everything is falling apart, and maybe it’s all Naomi’s fault. . . so maybe that’s why she had a hot, intense fling at an out-of-town conference with the handsomest man she had ever seen.
Just when Naomi is at her lowest, a stranger comes to Cypress Hollow – a stranger who Naomi sort of knows, after their one night together.
Hank ‘Rig’ Keller has returned from his lonely job as doctor on the oil-rigs to stay with his widowed brother, little nephew Milo and elderly father, Frank. He is even thinking of buying into the local practice, currently manned by one doctor . . . who, surprise-surprise! happens to be the one-night stand he can’t stop thinking about.
Rig Keller didn’t expect to trip over Doc Fontaine ever again, but now that he has he can’t seem to get her out of his system. Not even with the complication of them working together (or the technicality that Naomi is his boss). Rig can’t even help his attraction when Naomi’s little sister, by all accounts a reckless wanderer, turns up on her doorstep seven months pregnant, sending Naomi’s carefully organized life spiralling into orbit. . .
‘Naomi’s Wish’ (called ‘Wishes and Stitches’ in the US) is the third book in Rachael Herron’s lovely-addictive contemporary romance series, ‘Cypress Hollow Yarn’.
I have really enjoyed this series. I read first book, ‘Eliza’s Gift’ last year, followed by ‘Lucy’s Kiss’ and was absolutely bawled over by how much I enjoyed the sweet little romances – set in the country town of Cypress Hollow, and loosely tangled around a renowned knitter called Eliza Carpenter. To be more precise, the stories are about the people who find themselves at loose ends after Eliza dies of cancer – but her friendships, plotting and patterns are still felt in the Hollow.
In the case of ‘Naomi’s Wish’, Dr Naomi Fontaine was Eliza’s doctor who, in the wake of Eliza’s sad passing, decides to pack her city life up and move to the Hollow. When the book begins, Naomi has been living in Cypress Hollow for quite a few months – but you’d never know it. The townspeople barely register her presence, and Naomi is too shy to initiate friendships or even acquaintances. It’s rather painful to read how shy Naomi is, and how misjudged by the town for her aloofness. So it’s rather a surprise when big, handsome Rig Keller walks through the door of the local diner, and Naomi is horrified to discover it’s the man she had a one-night stand with a few weeks ago. Seems that Naomi enjoyed letting her hair down outside of Cypress Hollow, but in a twist of fate that one moment of recklessness is coming to bite her in the behind. . .
Rig is actually in town for a few reasons. His brother, Jake, is a widower whose wife died three years ago. Jake and Megan had a big love, and her loss nearly crippled him. It’s something Rig has seen before – in their father, Frank. When Jake and Rig’s mum died, Frank stayed in bed for six months and it was only with coaxing and tough-love that Jake and Rig were able to save him from himself. Rig has come to Cypress Hollow and intends to stay; to help his brother and father any way he can, and watch his beloved nephew, Milo grow up. Jake is doing okay – he’s just a little over-protective and over-cautious, and he refuses to move or change anything that Megan touched.
When he sees Doc Naomi Fontaine, Rig is counting his lucky stars that he decided to leave the oil-rig life behind and move to the Hollow. Memories of her have been plaguing him for weeks, and he can’t believe his luck that the small town he has decided to move to comes complete with the woman of his dreams. But he’s a little surprised to discover that the Naomi from his day-dreams is a little more cold-shouldered in real life, less self-assured and painfully shy.
One of my favourite things in this book was the Keller family. Jake, Rig, Milo and Frank were wonderfully sweet, and offered some hilarious moments;
“So,” said Jake, and Rig could see the effort he was putting into cheering up. “How did your first day go as a new citizen?”
“I’m going to have to work with the hottest one-night stand I ever had.”
Jake said, “Rig!”
Milo bounced once, hard, and said, “My nightstand is next to my bed. Where’s yours?”
I found it really interesting that both Jake and Frank are wounded men – missing the loves of their lives. For Rig, his dad and brother’s heartbreak offers a warning not to lose your heart – but I thought it was really interesting to read about these men who have had to pick up the pieces of their lives after great loss.
I liked Naomi’s family a little less – mainly, her sister. Anna is Naomi’s half-sister, they share the same mother, but Anna’s father is their mother’s second husband, whom she is still married to. Naomi has always felt that Anna was their mother’s favourite – despite her recklessness. Anna ran away from home and has had a number of dubious jobs and relationships, and she is known to call up in the middle of the night and beg for money to be wired. When Anna winds up on Naomi’s front-porch, seven months pregnant and refusing to speak of the father, Naomi is upset but not all that surprised. There was so much friction and a history of hurt between Naomi and Anna, and I felt like we needed more page-time with the sisters. I also thought it was odd when Jake and Anna grew close . . . I thought that Anna was just using Jake at her convenience; she can’t hold down a job, has a baby on the way, so she sees leaching on to widower as the easy way out. Maybe Naomi loves her sister too much to think that critically of her, but I was really not keen on the Anna/Jake pairing and I wished someone would have pointed out the imbalance in the relationship.
I also thought that a lot of revelations happened to Naomi towards the end of the book. . . and I wished that they had been more evenly distributed. Because they were such BIG revelations, I wanted Naomi (and the reader) to spend more time dissecting them – instead it felt like we were led to a galloping conclusion without the in-depth emotional examination I would have liked.
But those are my only small complaints about this book. Everything else worked for me. I loved Naomi and Rig – he was such a charming man’s man, while she was an awkward wallflower and it was adorable to read how those clashing personalities actually complemented one another. I also had quite a swoony moment, when Rig nursed Naomi through a bout of food-poisoning. I think everyone, at some stage, has wondered what their loved one’s gross-out limits are. Childbirth is probably a pretty good indicator; but food-poisoning has got to be up there because it ain’t pretty. And if my partner reacted the way that Rig did, they’d have my eternal devotion;
And even pale as she was, face shiny with dried sweat, her curls tangled as if they’d been in a blender, Rig’s heart twisted when he looked at her. He pressed kiss after kiss into her temple, her forehead, her cheek, and when he did, she snuggled closer to him, her arms wrapping around his neck or his arm, whatever was closest to her. He wasn’t sure if it was just because she was sick, but he hoped not. He loved it.
As with all the ‘Cypress Hollow Yarn’ books, I loved the custodial wisdom of Eliza Carpenter’s knitted words of wisdom. They’re lovely, interspersed throughout the chapters and surprisingly easy to apply to real-life;
Grace is knowing when to bind off.
- E.C.
‘Naomi’s Wish’ was another beautiful romance by Rachael Herron. Reading one of these books is the equivalent to throwing a lovely knitted shawl over your shoulders and snuggling into the warmth. Lovely, lovely, lovely – and I do so hope it’s not the last time we visit Cypress Hollow, because I already want to return!
Naomi could have helped herself if she’d just explained the reason she moved to Cypress Hollow in the first place – Eliza Carpenter. The famed knitter and writer was Naomi’s patient, and eventually a very dear friend . . . until she died of cancer. But in the months that they’d had to grow close to one another, Eliza spoke constantly of Cypress Hollow – and instilled a great wish in Naomi to move to the little town and call it home. Naomi started out with high-hopes for the Hollow – and even opened a free clinic, in honour of her deceased father; a doctor who Naomi loved dearly, so much so that she followed in his footsteps.
But everything is falling apart, and maybe it’s all Naomi’s fault. . . so maybe that’s why she had a hot, intense fling at an out-of-town conference with the handsomest man she had ever seen.
Just when Naomi is at her lowest, a stranger comes to Cypress Hollow – a stranger who Naomi sort of knows, after their one night together.
Hank ‘Rig’ Keller has returned from his lonely job as doctor on the oil-rigs to stay with his widowed brother, little nephew Milo and elderly father, Frank. He is even thinking of buying into the local practice, currently manned by one doctor . . . who, surprise-surprise! happens to be the one-night stand he can’t stop thinking about.
Rig Keller didn’t expect to trip over Doc Fontaine ever again, but now that he has he can’t seem to get her out of his system. Not even with the complication of them working together (or the technicality that Naomi is his boss). Rig can’t even help his attraction when Naomi’s little sister, by all accounts a reckless wanderer, turns up on her doorstep seven months pregnant, sending Naomi’s carefully organized life spiralling into orbit. . .
‘Naomi’s Wish’ (called ‘Wishes and Stitches’ in the US) is the third book in Rachael Herron’s lovely-addictive contemporary romance series, ‘Cypress Hollow Yarn’.
I have really enjoyed this series. I read first book, ‘Eliza’s Gift’ last year, followed by ‘Lucy’s Kiss’ and was absolutely bawled over by how much I enjoyed the sweet little romances – set in the country town of Cypress Hollow, and loosely tangled around a renowned knitter called Eliza Carpenter. To be more precise, the stories are about the people who find themselves at loose ends after Eliza dies of cancer – but her friendships, plotting and patterns are still felt in the Hollow.
In the case of ‘Naomi’s Wish’, Dr Naomi Fontaine was Eliza’s doctor who, in the wake of Eliza’s sad passing, decides to pack her city life up and move to the Hollow. When the book begins, Naomi has been living in Cypress Hollow for quite a few months – but you’d never know it. The townspeople barely register her presence, and Naomi is too shy to initiate friendships or even acquaintances. It’s rather painful to read how shy Naomi is, and how misjudged by the town for her aloofness. So it’s rather a surprise when big, handsome Rig Keller walks through the door of the local diner, and Naomi is horrified to discover it’s the man she had a one-night stand with a few weeks ago. Seems that Naomi enjoyed letting her hair down outside of Cypress Hollow, but in a twist of fate that one moment of recklessness is coming to bite her in the behind. . .
Rig is actually in town for a few reasons. His brother, Jake, is a widower whose wife died three years ago. Jake and Megan had a big love, and her loss nearly crippled him. It’s something Rig has seen before – in their father, Frank. When Jake and Rig’s mum died, Frank stayed in bed for six months and it was only with coaxing and tough-love that Jake and Rig were able to save him from himself. Rig has come to Cypress Hollow and intends to stay; to help his brother and father any way he can, and watch his beloved nephew, Milo grow up. Jake is doing okay – he’s just a little over-protective and over-cautious, and he refuses to move or change anything that Megan touched.
When he sees Doc Naomi Fontaine, Rig is counting his lucky stars that he decided to leave the oil-rig life behind and move to the Hollow. Memories of her have been plaguing him for weeks, and he can’t believe his luck that the small town he has decided to move to comes complete with the woman of his dreams. But he’s a little surprised to discover that the Naomi from his day-dreams is a little more cold-shouldered in real life, less self-assured and painfully shy.
One of my favourite things in this book was the Keller family. Jake, Rig, Milo and Frank were wonderfully sweet, and offered some hilarious moments;
“So,” said Jake, and Rig could see the effort he was putting into cheering up. “How did your first day go as a new citizen?”
“I’m going to have to work with the hottest one-night stand I ever had.”
Jake said, “Rig!”
Milo bounced once, hard, and said, “My nightstand is next to my bed. Where’s yours?”
I found it really interesting that both Jake and Frank are wounded men – missing the loves of their lives. For Rig, his dad and brother’s heartbreak offers a warning not to lose your heart – but I thought it was really interesting to read about these men who have had to pick up the pieces of their lives after great loss.
I liked Naomi’s family a little less – mainly, her sister. Anna is Naomi’s half-sister, they share the same mother, but Anna’s father is their mother’s second husband, whom she is still married to. Naomi has always felt that Anna was their mother’s favourite – despite her recklessness. Anna ran away from home and has had a number of dubious jobs and relationships, and she is known to call up in the middle of the night and beg for money to be wired. When Anna winds up on Naomi’s front-porch, seven months pregnant and refusing to speak of the father, Naomi is upset but not all that surprised. There was so much friction and a history of hurt between Naomi and Anna, and I felt like we needed more page-time with the sisters. I also thought it was odd when Jake and Anna grew close . . . I thought that Anna was just using Jake at her convenience; she can’t hold down a job, has a baby on the way, so she sees leaching on to widower as the easy way out. Maybe Naomi loves her sister too much to think that critically of her, but I was really not keen on the Anna/Jake pairing and I wished someone would have pointed out the imbalance in the relationship.
I also thought that a lot of revelations happened to Naomi towards the end of the book. . . and I wished that they had been more evenly distributed. Because they were such BIG revelations, I wanted Naomi (and the reader) to spend more time dissecting them – instead it felt like we were led to a galloping conclusion without the in-depth emotional examination I would have liked.
But those are my only small complaints about this book. Everything else worked for me. I loved Naomi and Rig – he was such a charming man’s man, while she was an awkward wallflower and it was adorable to read how those clashing personalities actually complemented one another. I also had quite a swoony moment, when Rig nursed Naomi through a bout of food-poisoning. I think everyone, at some stage, has wondered what their loved one’s gross-out limits are. Childbirth is probably a pretty good indicator; but food-poisoning has got to be up there because it ain’t pretty. And if my partner reacted the way that Rig did, they’d have my eternal devotion;
And even pale as she was, face shiny with dried sweat, her curls tangled as if they’d been in a blender, Rig’s heart twisted when he looked at her. He pressed kiss after kiss into her temple, her forehead, her cheek, and when he did, she snuggled closer to him, her arms wrapping around his neck or his arm, whatever was closest to her. He wasn’t sure if it was just because she was sick, but he hoped not. He loved it.
As with all the ‘Cypress Hollow Yarn’ books, I loved the custodial wisdom of Eliza Carpenter’s knitted words of wisdom. They’re lovely, interspersed throughout the chapters and surprisingly easy to apply to real-life;
Grace is knowing when to bind off.
- E.C.
‘Naomi’s Wish’ was another beautiful romance by Rachael Herron. Reading one of these books is the equivalent to throwing a lovely knitted shawl over your shoulders and snuggling into the warmth. Lovely, lovely, lovely – and I do so hope it’s not the last time we visit Cypress Hollow, because I already want to return!
March 22, 2018
This was my least favorite of the series. It was the characters. I did not like any of them, except the main characters of the previous two novels. The four of them weren't in this book much, though. Also, there wasn't enough knitting in this book; I was expecting a lot more knitting and yarn in this book. I also did not like the romances, but that stems from my dislike of the characters. There is a happy ending, which was nice.
October 21, 2011
Naomi Fontaine's biggest dream was to live in a small town overlooking the beach. The kind where you can stop in the diner in the morning and have breakfast. Stopping at a table that is reserved just for you as you wave hi to everyone in town that's there for breakfast too.
And that's the very reason why she has settled down in the small, beachside town on Cypress Hollow, to begin a new life for herself, to open up a small health clinic like her dad used to have and be the resident doctor. Living on an idyllic street reminiscent of any perfect neighborhood, Naomi Fontaine has found true happiness. A thriving practice with the local doctor as his partner who is retiring in a few short months. Not knowing if she'll have enough money to buy out his part of the practice, she can only hope the replacement doctor is someone she can work well with.
The only problem with Naomi's dream life in Cypress Hollow is she can't bring herself to talk to anyone. Not even all those town residents she passes by on her way into Tillie's diner for breakfast. Nope instead she heads to the farthest table in the back where she tortures herself with the conversations she wished she was having with the people but instead only dreams of those conversations in her head. Why Oh why can't she find it within herself to just talk to people? Even the knitting she is struggling with, she can't manage to wander her way into the local yarn shop and ask for help. Nope, she resolves to stay in her little world until something changes.
And it does in fact change when Rig Keller walks into the diner one morning. Not quite sure if he is indeed the same person she fell for at a medical convention in Portland, she cringes when she realizes that it is. She wishes she could just crawl into a hole and pull the rock in after her, but when his great rugged looks, and that to die for smile come walking her way, Naomi realizes her life is about to change.
I received Wishes and Stitches by Rachael Herron compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. This is such a great love story with so much extra thrown in, the reader is entertained from beginning to end at just what Naomi will do to finally make her dreams come true. Sometimes she gets in her own way instead of just being the bold doctor she was in Portland. Only the trust that was lost so long ago, will make Naomi realize she's been lost and hiding for far too long and it's time to really start living her life. This one rates a 4 out of 5 stars. There is some sexual content that may offend some readers, so be warned. All in all, a great story!
And that's the very reason why she has settled down in the small, beachside town on Cypress Hollow, to begin a new life for herself, to open up a small health clinic like her dad used to have and be the resident doctor. Living on an idyllic street reminiscent of any perfect neighborhood, Naomi Fontaine has found true happiness. A thriving practice with the local doctor as his partner who is retiring in a few short months. Not knowing if she'll have enough money to buy out his part of the practice, she can only hope the replacement doctor is someone she can work well with.
The only problem with Naomi's dream life in Cypress Hollow is she can't bring herself to talk to anyone. Not even all those town residents she passes by on her way into Tillie's diner for breakfast. Nope instead she heads to the farthest table in the back where she tortures herself with the conversations she wished she was having with the people but instead only dreams of those conversations in her head. Why Oh why can't she find it within herself to just talk to people? Even the knitting she is struggling with, she can't manage to wander her way into the local yarn shop and ask for help. Nope, she resolves to stay in her little world until something changes.
And it does in fact change when Rig Keller walks into the diner one morning. Not quite sure if he is indeed the same person she fell for at a medical convention in Portland, she cringes when she realizes that it is. She wishes she could just crawl into a hole and pull the rock in after her, but when his great rugged looks, and that to die for smile come walking her way, Naomi realizes her life is about to change.
I received Wishes and Stitches by Rachael Herron compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. This is such a great love story with so much extra thrown in, the reader is entertained from beginning to end at just what Naomi will do to finally make her dreams come true. Sometimes she gets in her own way instead of just being the bold doctor she was in Portland. Only the trust that was lost so long ago, will make Naomi realize she's been lost and hiding for far too long and it's time to really start living her life. This one rates a 4 out of 5 stars. There is some sexual content that may offend some readers, so be warned. All in all, a great story!
November 28, 2013
This is the first of Rachael Herron's books I have read. Thoroughly enjoyed this romance, with plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested and unable to put the book down! Didn't hurt that Naomi's love interest,Rig,rides a Harley either :)
August 2, 2013
Oops, finished this one a week or two ago but never marked it.
Rachel's a good friend so I don't really feel objective. BUT IT WAS GREAT.
Rachel's a good friend so I don't really feel objective. BUT IT WAS GREAT.
May 24, 2025
A little slow but hilarious once you start reading it!
What can I say = this book is HILARIOUS! It's VERY VERY detailed on the sex scenes - lets just say that!
What can I say = this book is HILARIOUS! It's VERY VERY detailed on the sex scenes - lets just say that!
July 16, 2012
The trifecta of awesomeness... Rachel has done it again with a story that wraps you up and takes you on a sweet ride... Be warned tho, you may find a new found interest in knitting ;)
August 28, 2015
I would give it 3.5. Fun book Really enjoy these books
May 15, 2012
Dr Naomi Fontaine might have made a huge mistake in moving to Cypress Hollow. The townsfolk are wary of her and even after months of being the only doctor in town and eating at the same diner every morning, nobody has really warmed up to her. Not that she can blame them . . . Naomi knows that while she’s a great doctor, her bedside manner leaves a little something to be desired. She can’t do chit-chat or idle small-talk; she’s painfully shy and in the past that aloofness has come across as stuck-up.
Naomi could have helped herself if she’d just explained the reason she moved to Cypress Hollow in the first place – Eliza Carpenter. The famed knitter and writer was Naomi’s patient, and eventually a very dear friend . . . until she died of cancer. But in the months that they’d had to grow close to one another, Eliza spoke constantly of Cypress Hollow – and instilled a great wish in Naomi to move to the little town and call it home. Naomi started out with high-hopes for the Hollow – and even opened a free clinic, in honour of her deceased father; a doctor who Naomi loved dearly, so much so that she followed in his footsteps.
But everything is falling apart, and maybe it’s all Naomi’s fault. . . so maybe that’s why she had a hot, intense fling at an out-of-town conference with the handsomest man she had ever seen.
Just when Naomi is at her lowest, a stranger comes to Cypress Hollow – a stranger who Naomi sort of knows, after their one night together.
Hank ‘Rig’ Keller has returned from his lonely job as doctor on the oil-rigs to stay with his widowed brother, little nephew Milo and elderly father, Frank. He is even thinking of buying into the local practice, currently manned by one doctor . . . who, surprise-surprise! happens to be the one-night stand he can’t stop thinking about.
Rig Keller didn’t expect to trip over Doc Fontaine ever again, but now that he has he can’t seem to get her out of his system. Not even with the complication of them working together (or the technicality that Naomi is his boss). Rig can’t even help his attraction when Naomi’s little sister, by all accounts a reckless wanderer, turns up on her doorstep seven months pregnant, sending Naomi’s carefully organized life spiralling into orbit. . .
‘Naomi’s Wish’ (called ‘Wishes and Stitches’ in the US) is the third book in Rachael Herron’s lovely-addictive contemporary romance series, ‘Cypress Hollow Yarn’.
I have really enjoyed this series. I read first book, ‘Eliza’s Gift’ last year, followed by ‘Lucy’s Kiss’ and was absolutely bawled over by how much I enjoyed the sweet little romances – set in the country town of Cypress Hollow, and loosely tangled around a renowned knitter called Eliza Carpenter. To be more precise, the stories are about the people who find themselves at loose ends after Eliza dies of cancer – but her friendships, plotting and patterns are still felt in the Hollow.
In the case of ‘Naomi’s Wish’, Dr Naomi Fontaine was Eliza’s doctor who, in the wake of Eliza’s sad passing, decides to pack her city life up and move to the Hollow. When the book begins, Naomi has been living in Cypress Hollow for quite a few months – but you’d never know it. The townspeople barely register her presence, and Naomi is too shy to initiate friendships or even acquaintances. It’s rather painful to read how shy Naomi is, and how misjudged by the town for her aloofness. So it’s rather a surprise when big, handsome Rig Keller walks through the door of the local diner, and Naomi is horrified to discover it’s the man she had a one-night stand with a few weeks ago. Seems that Naomi enjoyed letting her hair down outside of Cypress Hollow, but in a twist of fate that one moment of recklessness is coming to bite her in the behind. . .
Rig is actually in town for a few reasons. His brother, Jake, is a widower whose wife died three years ago. Jake and Megan had a big love, and her loss nearly crippled him. It’s something Rig has seen before – in their father, Frank. When Jake and Rig’s mum died, Frank stayed in bed for six months and it was only with coaxing and tough-love that Jake and Rig were able to save him from himself. Rig has come to Cypress Hollow and intends to stay; to help his brother and father any way he can, and watch his beloved nephew, Milo grow up. Jake is doing okay – he’s just a little over-protective and over-cautious, and he refuses to move or change anything that Megan touched.
When he sees Doc Naomi Fontaine, Rig is counting his lucky stars that he decided to leave the oil-rig life behind and move to the Hollow. Memories of her have been plaguing him for weeks, and he can’t believe his luck that the small town he has decided to move to comes complete with the woman of his dreams. But he’s a little surprised to discover that the Naomi from his day-dreams is a little more cold-shouldered in real life, less self-assured and painfully shy.
One of my favourite things in this book was the Keller family. Jake, Rig, Milo and Frank were wonderfully sweet, and offered some hilarious moments;
“So,” said Jake, and Rig could see the effort he was putting into cheering up. “How did your first day go as a new citizen?”
“I’m going to have to work with the hottest one-night stand I ever had.”
Jake said, “Rig!”
Milo bounced once, hard, and said, “My nightstand is next to my bed. Where’s yours?”
I found it really interesting that both Jake and Frank are wounded men – missing the loves of their lives. For Rig, his dad and brother’s heartbreak offers a warning not to lose your heart – but I thought it was really interesting to read about these men who have had to pick up the pieces of their lives after great loss.
I liked Naomi’s family a little less – mainly, her sister. Anna is Naomi’s half-sister, they share the same mother, but Anna’s father is their mother’s second husband, whom she is still married to. Naomi has always felt that Anna was their mother’s favourite – despite her recklessness. Anna ran away from home and has had a number of dubious jobs and relationships, and she is known to call up in the middle of the night and beg for money to be wired. When Anna winds up on Naomi’s front-porch, seven months pregnant and refusing to speak of the father, Naomi is upset but not all that surprised. There was so much friction and a history of hurt between Naomi and Anna, and I felt like we needed more page-time with the sisters. I also thought it was odd when Jake and Anna grew close . . . I thought that Anna was just using Jake at her convenience; she can’t hold down a job, has a baby on the way, so she sees leaching on to widower as the easy way out. Maybe Naomi loves her sister too much to think that critically of her, but I was really not keen on the Anna/Jake pairing and I wished someone would have pointed out the imbalance in the relationship.
I also thought that a lot of revelations happened to Naomi towards the end of the book. . . and I wished that they had been more evenly distributed. Because they were such BIG revelations, I wanted Naomi (and the reader) to spend more time dissecting them – instead it felt like we were led to a galloping conclusion without the in-depth emotional examination I would have liked.
But those are my only small complaints about this book. Everything else worked for me. I loved Naomi and Rig – he was such a charming man’s man, while she was an awkward wallflower and it was adorable to read how those clashing personalities actually complemented one another. I also had quite a swoony moment, when Rig nursed Naomi through a bout of food-poisoning. I think everyone, at some stage, has wondered what their loved one’s gross-out limits are. Childbirth is probably a pretty good indicator; but food-poisoning has got to be up there because it ain’t pretty. And if my partner reacted the way that Rig did, they’d have my eternal devotion;
And even pale as she was, face shiny with dried sweat, her curls tangled as if they’d been in a blender, Rig’s heart twisted when he looked at her. He pressed kiss after kiss into her temple, her forehead, her cheek, and when he did, she snuggled closer to him, her arms wrapping around his neck or his arm, whatever was closest to her. He wasn’t sure if it was just because she was sick, but he hoped not. He loved it.
As with all the ‘Cypress Hollow Yarn’ books, I loved the custodial wisdom of Eliza Carpenter’s knitted words of wisdom. They’re lovely, interspersed throughout the chapters and surprisingly easy to apply to real-life;
Grace is knowing when to bind off.
- E.C.
‘Naomi’s Wish’ was another beautiful romance by Rachael Herron. Reading one of these books is the equivalent to throwing a lovely knitted shawl over your shoulders and snuggling into the warmth. Lovely, lovely, lovely – and I do so hope it’s not the last time we visit Cypress Hollow, because I already want to return!
Naomi could have helped herself if she’d just explained the reason she moved to Cypress Hollow in the first place – Eliza Carpenter. The famed knitter and writer was Naomi’s patient, and eventually a very dear friend . . . until she died of cancer. But in the months that they’d had to grow close to one another, Eliza spoke constantly of Cypress Hollow – and instilled a great wish in Naomi to move to the little town and call it home. Naomi started out with high-hopes for the Hollow – and even opened a free clinic, in honour of her deceased father; a doctor who Naomi loved dearly, so much so that she followed in his footsteps.
But everything is falling apart, and maybe it’s all Naomi’s fault. . . so maybe that’s why she had a hot, intense fling at an out-of-town conference with the handsomest man she had ever seen.
Just when Naomi is at her lowest, a stranger comes to Cypress Hollow – a stranger who Naomi sort of knows, after their one night together.
Hank ‘Rig’ Keller has returned from his lonely job as doctor on the oil-rigs to stay with his widowed brother, little nephew Milo and elderly father, Frank. He is even thinking of buying into the local practice, currently manned by one doctor . . . who, surprise-surprise! happens to be the one-night stand he can’t stop thinking about.
Rig Keller didn’t expect to trip over Doc Fontaine ever again, but now that he has he can’t seem to get her out of his system. Not even with the complication of them working together (or the technicality that Naomi is his boss). Rig can’t even help his attraction when Naomi’s little sister, by all accounts a reckless wanderer, turns up on her doorstep seven months pregnant, sending Naomi’s carefully organized life spiralling into orbit. . .
‘Naomi’s Wish’ (called ‘Wishes and Stitches’ in the US) is the third book in Rachael Herron’s lovely-addictive contemporary romance series, ‘Cypress Hollow Yarn’.
I have really enjoyed this series. I read first book, ‘Eliza’s Gift’ last year, followed by ‘Lucy’s Kiss’ and was absolutely bawled over by how much I enjoyed the sweet little romances – set in the country town of Cypress Hollow, and loosely tangled around a renowned knitter called Eliza Carpenter. To be more precise, the stories are about the people who find themselves at loose ends after Eliza dies of cancer – but her friendships, plotting and patterns are still felt in the Hollow.
In the case of ‘Naomi’s Wish’, Dr Naomi Fontaine was Eliza’s doctor who, in the wake of Eliza’s sad passing, decides to pack her city life up and move to the Hollow. When the book begins, Naomi has been living in Cypress Hollow for quite a few months – but you’d never know it. The townspeople barely register her presence, and Naomi is too shy to initiate friendships or even acquaintances. It’s rather painful to read how shy Naomi is, and how misjudged by the town for her aloofness. So it’s rather a surprise when big, handsome Rig Keller walks through the door of the local diner, and Naomi is horrified to discover it’s the man she had a one-night stand with a few weeks ago. Seems that Naomi enjoyed letting her hair down outside of Cypress Hollow, but in a twist of fate that one moment of recklessness is coming to bite her in the behind. . .
Rig is actually in town for a few reasons. His brother, Jake, is a widower whose wife died three years ago. Jake and Megan had a big love, and her loss nearly crippled him. It’s something Rig has seen before – in their father, Frank. When Jake and Rig’s mum died, Frank stayed in bed for six months and it was only with coaxing and tough-love that Jake and Rig were able to save him from himself. Rig has come to Cypress Hollow and intends to stay; to help his brother and father any way he can, and watch his beloved nephew, Milo grow up. Jake is doing okay – he’s just a little over-protective and over-cautious, and he refuses to move or change anything that Megan touched.
When he sees Doc Naomi Fontaine, Rig is counting his lucky stars that he decided to leave the oil-rig life behind and move to the Hollow. Memories of her have been plaguing him for weeks, and he can’t believe his luck that the small town he has decided to move to comes complete with the woman of his dreams. But he’s a little surprised to discover that the Naomi from his day-dreams is a little more cold-shouldered in real life, less self-assured and painfully shy.
One of my favourite things in this book was the Keller family. Jake, Rig, Milo and Frank were wonderfully sweet, and offered some hilarious moments;
“So,” said Jake, and Rig could see the effort he was putting into cheering up. “How did your first day go as a new citizen?”
“I’m going to have to work with the hottest one-night stand I ever had.”
Jake said, “Rig!”
Milo bounced once, hard, and said, “My nightstand is next to my bed. Where’s yours?”
I found it really interesting that both Jake and Frank are wounded men – missing the loves of their lives. For Rig, his dad and brother’s heartbreak offers a warning not to lose your heart – but I thought it was really interesting to read about these men who have had to pick up the pieces of their lives after great loss.
I liked Naomi’s family a little less – mainly, her sister. Anna is Naomi’s half-sister, they share the same mother, but Anna’s father is their mother’s second husband, whom she is still married to. Naomi has always felt that Anna was their mother’s favourite – despite her recklessness. Anna ran away from home and has had a number of dubious jobs and relationships, and she is known to call up in the middle of the night and beg for money to be wired. When Anna winds up on Naomi’s front-porch, seven months pregnant and refusing to speak of the father, Naomi is upset but not all that surprised. There was so much friction and a history of hurt between Naomi and Anna, and I felt like we needed more page-time with the sisters. I also thought it was odd when Jake and Anna grew close . . . I thought that Anna was just using Jake at her convenience; she can’t hold down a job, has a baby on the way, so she sees leaching on to widower as the easy way out. Maybe Naomi loves her sister too much to think that critically of her, but I was really not keen on the Anna/Jake pairing and I wished someone would have pointed out the imbalance in the relationship.
I also thought that a lot of revelations happened to Naomi towards the end of the book. . . and I wished that they had been more evenly distributed. Because they were such BIG revelations, I wanted Naomi (and the reader) to spend more time dissecting them – instead it felt like we were led to a galloping conclusion without the in-depth emotional examination I would have liked.
But those are my only small complaints about this book. Everything else worked for me. I loved Naomi and Rig – he was such a charming man’s man, while she was an awkward wallflower and it was adorable to read how those clashing personalities actually complemented one another. I also had quite a swoony moment, when Rig nursed Naomi through a bout of food-poisoning. I think everyone, at some stage, has wondered what their loved one’s gross-out limits are. Childbirth is probably a pretty good indicator; but food-poisoning has got to be up there because it ain’t pretty. And if my partner reacted the way that Rig did, they’d have my eternal devotion;
And even pale as she was, face shiny with dried sweat, her curls tangled as if they’d been in a blender, Rig’s heart twisted when he looked at her. He pressed kiss after kiss into her temple, her forehead, her cheek, and when he did, she snuggled closer to him, her arms wrapping around his neck or his arm, whatever was closest to her. He wasn’t sure if it was just because she was sick, but he hoped not. He loved it.
As with all the ‘Cypress Hollow Yarn’ books, I loved the custodial wisdom of Eliza Carpenter’s knitted words of wisdom. They’re lovely, interspersed throughout the chapters and surprisingly easy to apply to real-life;
Grace is knowing when to bind off.
- E.C.
‘Naomi’s Wish’ was another beautiful romance by Rachael Herron. Reading one of these books is the equivalent to throwing a lovely knitted shawl over your shoulders and snuggling into the warmth. Lovely, lovely, lovely – and I do so hope it’s not the last time we visit Cypress Hollow, because I already want to return!
April 2, 2018
Not my favorite book in the series. I really struggled to get through this one.
It wasn’t a bad book, there were parts I liked, and others I really did not care for. Like the first two books in the series, my issues are with the female leads.
I loved Rig. Like the other men in this series, he was a “man’s man”. Rough, tough, sexy, alpha male. And when it comes to the heroine, has the patience of a saint to deal with their issues.
The secondary characters are great, quirky, lovable and hilarious.
Each book has drawn me in with the blurb. And they all start off great. I don’t mind the back and forth dance the two main characters do before finally having that “moment” where they finally come to their senses and give into each other. My problem is with the weak, stagnant women who live in their own heads more than the real world. Having tunnel vision and refusing to see help and friendship when it’s offered.
Naomi made me crazy. Her constant whining about having no friends, no one to talk to. Yet when opportunities arose where she could make friends she quickly turned them down. Refused invitations to join book clubs, knitting groups. Blamed the townspeople for not accepting her. Continuing to believe they would turn around come to her. Kept telling herself she was just shy. Until she overhears others talking about her. And realizes it’s not shyness they are seeing in her, but snobbishness.
Naomi put her father on a pedestal. Early on in her life someone needed to knock him off of that pedestal she put him on, and show her he was just a person. Not the idol she made him out to be. She spent her life trying to emulate her father, continue the work he started. She was so wrapped up in his life and work, she forgot to to live her own life. Come up with her own professional goals.
Dealing with her internal dialogue, I found my self skipping parts.
It’s not a bad book, it was well written. And does have a happy ending.
I loved seeing, and catching up with past characters.
It wasn’t a bad book, there were parts I liked, and others I really did not care for. Like the first two books in the series, my issues are with the female leads.
I loved Rig. Like the other men in this series, he was a “man’s man”. Rough, tough, sexy, alpha male. And when it comes to the heroine, has the patience of a saint to deal with their issues.
The secondary characters are great, quirky, lovable and hilarious.
Each book has drawn me in with the blurb. And they all start off great. I don’t mind the back and forth dance the two main characters do before finally having that “moment” where they finally come to their senses and give into each other. My problem is with the weak, stagnant women who live in their own heads more than the real world. Having tunnel vision and refusing to see help and friendship when it’s offered.
Naomi made me crazy. Her constant whining about having no friends, no one to talk to. Yet when opportunities arose where she could make friends she quickly turned them down. Refused invitations to join book clubs, knitting groups. Blamed the townspeople for not accepting her. Continuing to believe they would turn around come to her. Kept telling herself she was just shy. Until she overhears others talking about her. And realizes it’s not shyness they are seeing in her, but snobbishness.
Naomi put her father on a pedestal. Early on in her life someone needed to knock him off of that pedestal she put him on, and show her he was just a person. Not the idol she made him out to be. She spent her life trying to emulate her father, continue the work he started. She was so wrapped up in his life and work, she forgot to to live her own life. Come up with her own professional goals.
Dealing with her internal dialogue, I found my self skipping parts.
It’s not a bad book, it was well written. And does have a happy ending.
I loved seeing, and catching up with past characters.
October 12, 2021
I am enjoying this audio series while knitting a sweater for my hubby. These books make me wish I was working on homespun yarn instead of commercial yarn; at least my wool is quality. I like the romantic parts but I also enjoy the knitting tips and jokes at the beginning of each chapter. I am very tempted to look for more audiobooks that focus more on knitting than on romance. This is coming from a romance lover. There is a noticeable amount of satisfaction that goes with knitting while listening to stories centered around knitting. I intend to finish the sweater before I finish the series 🤞🏽
April 3, 2025
So far I’ve read the first three books of this series. Each one unique in its own way. I especially love the read that holds them together - Eliza Carpenter who touched so many lives and still seems to continue doing so even after her passing. As an avid knitter, the knitting adds a wonderful warmth to the books. Naomi’s Wish was a little different in that there are some great twists in the end. I enjoyed this one as much as I did the first two. I hope this series continues past the six books currently in the series. I love being transported to Cypress Hollow I’m pretty sure I would fit right into one of the many knitting groups.
June 14, 2021
Not my favorite in the series, but I did empathize with the main character's social awkwardness. I thought some of the conflict was a little unbelievable...why doesn't the main character not want the town to know she knits? And Rigg's brother seems to get over his wife's death too quickly. He went from utterly traumatized to ready to move on in the course of a few pages.
On the plus side, the epigraphs from Eliza Carpenter are still there, like the two previous books. The book is an enjoyable read, but certainly didn't have the impact as the first two books.
On the plus side, the epigraphs from Eliza Carpenter are still there, like the two previous books. The book is an enjoyable read, but certainly didn't have the impact as the first two books.
February 20, 2022
I enjoy the Cypress Hollow series and this instalment is no exception. It’s a warm, fun, casual read. Even if you haven’t read any of the other books in this series it’s great as a stand-alone. It’s especially good if you are any kind of knitter.
The characters are well developed and the story lines are intertwined in an interesting way. I love how the yarns are woven together with knitting as the tie that binds the community together. Having a central matriarchal character that recurs in the books and is part of the town’s history is really nice and comforting.
The characters are well developed and the story lines are intertwined in an interesting way. I love how the yarns are woven together with knitting as the tie that binds the community together. Having a central matriarchal character that recurs in the books and is part of the town’s history is really nice and comforting.
July 28, 2023
I honestly didn't think I would like this book but I found myself getting sucked in from the very start! The synopsis reminded me of a tv show, female doctor moves to small town and I thought it was gonna be just like the others but this one was different in its own ways. I won't say what as it does spoiler the mystery! I don't knit but I absolutely want to now! I'm definitely going to keep my eyes out for any other books by this author, I really like her writing style and the way she puts a story together.
November 11, 2024
OMG! - Tell me grown, professional women don't just hop into bed with some studly dude.
Naomi spends all her time obsessing over this guy, while at the same time trying to avoid him. She's so pathetic.
While there were some funny parts, the 'romance' was more like love / hate with some soft-core porn added in. I don't want, or need, explicit details of someone's sex life. If the author had mentioned how BIG and HARD he was, one more time, I'd have thrown the book against the wall!
Naomi spends all her time obsessing over this guy, while at the same time trying to avoid him. She's so pathetic.
While there were some funny parts, the 'romance' was more like love / hate with some soft-core porn added in. I don't want, or need, explicit details of someone's sex life. If the author had mentioned how BIG and HARD he was, one more time, I'd have thrown the book against the wall!
November 28, 2017
I am sorry to say this was one of the weaker books I've read in a long time. Not really sure why I stayed with it except that is my practice and I don't usually give up on a book. It was predictable and very routine. Perhaps it suffered from it following a Ken Follett gem, but I don't think I'll look for any more of the author's writing. Sorry .....
March 20, 2018
I'm a sucker for any book that promises me knitting, and am willing to put up with a lot of silliness to get at it, but this book just never delivers.
Its a romance, where the two main characters just need to have their heads knocked together, and the plot is dressed up with so much extemporaneous nonsense that it just bogs down the basic story.
Not for me, I'm afraid.
Its a romance, where the two main characters just need to have their heads knocked together, and the plot is dressed up with so much extemporaneous nonsense that it just bogs down the basic story.
Not for me, I'm afraid.
April 18, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyable
I stumbled on this series and have been enjoying them all. The characters, while a little unbelievable, carry over from one book to the next. You see characters from previous books in each one you read. It is kind of fun to read about a town as knit crazy as Cypress Hollow is.
I stumbled on this series and have been enjoying them all. The characters, while a little unbelievable, carry over from one book to the next. You see characters from previous books in each one you read. It is kind of fun to read about a town as knit crazy as Cypress Hollow is.
April 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. The on again off again relationship between Naomi and Rig kept you guessing. It was a lovely story line all the way through. Loved all the characters and the beautiful way in which Rachael portrayed them. Another great read from many of Rachael's book that I have read. Well done. ❤️
January 11, 2024
I would rate this book 3.5 stars. As a wannabe knitter, I am really enjoying this series. This series is a light, easy read for when you don't want heavy duty reading. The characters are relatable, but the town is a little rude and crusty, but you like it anyway. I will keep going back to the town of Cypress Hollow!
August 18, 2019
There were times I just did not like the main character (Naomi) in this book. And then there were times where I laughed out loud over an extremely awkward scene. I also teared up a few times. It was a quick read, and I definitely went through the gamut of emotion on this one.
April 8, 2025
Ice queens aren't my favorite troupe but at least we have the rugged golden retriever doctor to balance this book out.
Also, can we start calling the deceased knitting guru SAINT Eliza? Because she sure keeps creating little miracles.
Also, can we start calling the deceased knitting guru SAINT Eliza? Because she sure keeps creating little miracles.
June 23, 2017
Gave it a 3 star although it was very slow and very cheesy. A very simple story.
August 9, 2017
the details/imagery in this book is truly amazing. you will fall in love with these characters.
April 26, 2018
in the series, this was my least favorite so far.
May 1, 2018
This book was a bit slow starting out but was an excellently written story which left me wanting to know just a bit more than happily ever after. Now to read the other two yarn books.
April 13, 2019
I read this over a week ago...and I think I liked it?
April 16, 2019
I hated this book and only read to chapter 6 - it was a Goodwill find and it went back there today! I'm not a fan of romance novels and took a chance. I lost.
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