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Granby Knitting #3
Knitter in His Natural Habitat
Stanley’s life took a left turn at a knitting shop and hit a dead end. The closest thing he’s had to a relationship breaks things off to date a “nice boy,” and none of the pretty young things in Boulder’s limited gay scene do it for Stanley. He needs to reevaluate whether working as a floor designer for a series of craft stores is really where he wants to be.
Then Stanley does a peculiar thing: he starts to live the life he fell into. Stitch by stitch, he knits his life into something meaningful. Just when he does, Johnny, the store’s new delivery boy, walks in.
Johnny is like no one Stanley has ever met: he doesn’t believe in quickies in the bathroom and has a soft spot for theater and opera. There has to be a catch. When Johnny’s dark past comes back to haunt them, Stanley realizes how much he loves his cushy life in the yarn store—but he’ll give it all up to keep the man who makes his ordinary life extraordinary.
Then Stanley does a peculiar thing: he starts to live the life he fell into. Stitch by stitch, he knits his life into something meaningful. Just when he does, Johnny, the store’s new delivery boy, walks in.
Johnny is like no one Stanley has ever met: he doesn’t believe in quickies in the bathroom and has a soft spot for theater and opera. There has to be a catch. When Johnny’s dark past comes back to haunt them, Stanley realizes how much he loves his cushy life in the yarn store—but he’ll give it all up to keep the man who makes his ordinary life extraordinary.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2012
About the author
Amy Lane
220 books3,517 followersAmy Lane dodges an EDJ, mothers four children, and writes the occasional book. She, her brood, and her beloved mate, Mack, live in a crumbling mortgage in Citrus Heights, California, which is riddled with spiders, cats, and more than its share of fancy and weirdness. Feel free to visit her at www.greenshill.com orwww.writerslane.blogspot.com, where she will ride the buzz of receiving your e-mail until her head swells and she can no longer leave the house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
May 3, 2014
*3.5 stars*
I liked the fourth book in the fabulous knitting series but my arch nemesis, evil insta-love, decided to make an appearance. *shakes fist in air, screams curses!*
Stanley was awesome. I have a soft spot for aging twinks and Stanley, with his bubble butt and hair plugs, really worked for me. I loved his attitude and the way that Johnny liked him for who he was. Johnny was also great, the ex-mob with a heart of gold.
What I didn't like was how they jumped to lovey-dovey-forever in a hot second. I like more of a slow-build, a long relationship development time. This was lightening fast, too fast for me. I also think that Johnny's secret was the least secretive secret of all time. Everyone knew! Self-preservation much?
Overall I enjoyed this story. The intensity of this one was exciting, especially towards the end. I was in it, totally in the moment.
Bring on the next, Amy Lane!
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I liked the fourth book in the fabulous knitting series but my arch nemesis, evil insta-love, decided to make an appearance. *shakes fist in air, screams curses!*
Stanley was awesome. I have a soft spot for aging twinks and Stanley, with his bubble butt and hair plugs, really worked for me. I loved his attitude and the way that Johnny liked him for who he was. Johnny was also great, the ex-mob with a heart of gold.
What I didn't like was how they jumped to lovey-dovey-forever in a hot second. I like more of a slow-build, a long relationship development time. This was lightening fast, too fast for me. I also think that Johnny's secret was the least secretive secret of all time. Everyone knew! Self-preservation much?
Overall I enjoyed this story. The intensity of this one was exciting, especially towards the end. I was in it, totally in the moment.
Bring on the next, Amy Lane!
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
April 29, 2014
I'm totally hooked on this town and these men!
Have I mentioned I don't knit? Or sew? Or have any interest in yarn? I COULD probably find a needle in a haystack, *if* my life depended on it.
But this series is dreamy. Which is not to say that it's easy. The first book (Craw and Ben) was, but the last one (Jeremy and Aiden) and this one, not so much. We see a tentative HEA for Jeremy and Aiden in the previous book in the series, but we also know Jeremy's past is waiting, and Johnny is part of that past.
This book is all about Stanley (Craw's regular fuck buddy from book 1 whom Craw unceremoniously dumps once Craw meets Ben) and, yes, Johnny, who has a lot to do with Jeremy and Jeremy's "escape" from the slick con life. Stanley is all flaming and bitchy and queeny, and I loved his snark and spark. Johnny, so wanting to find a tether, just needs a reason to go on, and he finds it in a knitting store, in Stanley.
Yes, it's insta love. But who cares? This is Granby, Colorado. It's all about color and knitting and healing.
There's a mob involved and bad guys, and there is one particularly brutal scenes, but there's also this huge sense of family and support and love, and all you can do is cheer for these MCs. Because they're worth it.
(Like in the previous books, there's one steamy scene, but it works, because there's so much delicious tension and build-up and tenderness and sweetness. It just works, ok?)
I'm so happy we're getting a follow-up to Jeremy and Aiden's story (and hopefully the other MCs as well) in:
Cannot wait!
Have I mentioned I don't knit? Or sew? Or have any interest in yarn? I COULD probably find a needle in a haystack, *if* my life depended on it.
But this series is dreamy. Which is not to say that it's easy. The first book (Craw and Ben) was, but the last one (Jeremy and Aiden) and this one, not so much. We see a tentative HEA for Jeremy and Aiden in the previous book in the series, but we also know Jeremy's past is waiting, and Johnny is part of that past.
This book is all about Stanley (Craw's regular fuck buddy from book 1 whom Craw unceremoniously dumps once Craw meets Ben) and, yes, Johnny, who has a lot to do with Jeremy and Jeremy's "escape" from the slick con life. Stanley is all flaming and bitchy and queeny, and I loved his snark and spark. Johnny, so wanting to find a tether, just needs a reason to go on, and he finds it in a knitting store, in Stanley.
Yes, it's insta love. But who cares? This is Granby, Colorado. It's all about color and knitting and healing.
There's a mob involved and bad guys, and there is one particularly brutal scenes, but there's also this huge sense of family and support and love, and all you can do is cheer for these MCs. Because they're worth it.
(Like in the previous books, there's one steamy scene, but it works, because there's so much delicious tension and build-up and tenderness and sweetness. It just works, ok?)
I'm so happy we're getting a follow-up to Jeremy and Aiden's story (and hopefully the other MCs as well) in:
Cannot wait!
November 22, 2012
The relationship is all deep life changing conversations from the first date which goes beyond chick-with-dick and into WTF territory. I liked Stanley but don't see what attracted Johnny except a bubble butt mentioned enough times to qualify for a drinking game and promised sluttyness.
The side characters are a return of past characters and new sidekicks that are interchangeable Ariadne/Alice, both coo at the sweetie and dissect his 'love' life. . I'd have liked a glimpse of why Stanley's darling was so special, maybe a squabble with supposedly phobic Jed, somthing.
The plot seemed thin to me. As with the others it could have been kept to a sweet little story but as an Amy Lane there needs to be a sudden over dramatic ending. It wasn't logical to me and the workings of WITSEC appeared to be convenient to the story rather than plausible.
The big showdown with Jeremy seemed pointless and even masochositic. Also Stanley seemed to get a lot of fuss made of him and not one person turning and asking why he didn't help, not even Adrien.
Knitting is what holds this series together but I'd love a character who just messes it all up into an ugly tangle instead of being absorbed into the cult. I like wool craft but found it excesssive, all the shanks and skanks and hanks no one simply buys a ball of wool 'cause it's pretty and makes somehting with it, it's all zen.
Stanley makes Johnny a hat. I was actually hoping to get a pattern I'd use at the end, but it's for a big ugly scarf.
Turn your brain off and it's fine for a quick read.
The side characters are a return of past characters and new sidekicks that are interchangeable Ariadne/Alice, both coo at the sweetie and dissect his 'love' life. . I'd have liked a glimpse of why Stanley's darling was so special, maybe a squabble with supposedly phobic Jed, somthing.
The plot seemed thin to me. As with the others it could have been kept to a sweet little story but as an Amy Lane there needs to be a sudden over dramatic ending. It wasn't logical to me and the workings of WITSEC appeared to be convenient to the story rather than plausible.
The big showdown with Jeremy seemed pointless and even masochositic. Also Stanley seemed to get a lot of fuss made of him and not one person turning and asking why he didn't help, not even Adrien.
Knitting is what holds this series together but I'd love a character who just messes it all up into an ugly tangle instead of being absorbed into the cult. I like wool craft but found it excesssive, all the shanks and skanks and hanks no one simply buys a ball of wool 'cause it's pretty and makes somehting with it, it's all zen.
Stanley makes Johnny a hat. I was actually hoping to get a pattern I'd use at the end, but it's for a big ugly scarf.
Turn your brain off and it's fine for a quick read.
December 2, 2015
Philip Alces does a fantastic job with the narration. Between his character voices and overall performance it's a real treat to listen to him with this series so far, and this installment is no different. I loved his Stanley!
Alces brilliantly conveys Stanley's snarky, bitchy, vulnerability. I loved Stanley as a character, his humor is right up my alley. I cracked up so many times at the things he thought and what flew out of his mouth. When Stanley, who is tired at 35 of the club life, decides to give both knitting and being a "nice boy" a shot, the results, and snarkiness, is hysterical. When Johnny, who we met at the end of How to Raise an Honest Rabbit, makes a delivery to Stanley's yarn store it's instant love at first sight for both of them.
I'll admit I had to suspend my disbelief more than once in this one, with the insta-love, the confession of Johnny's past to Stanley and the others, the mob finding Johnny and Stanley, Stanley's flight, and finally Jeremy's stand.
But I let all of that go, because ultimately the writing is fun, flows brilliantly and Amy Lane knows how to tear out my heart and piece it back together like a patchwork quilt, somehow making it stronger than when I started.
As far as characters in this series go, I loved Craw and Ben, then Aiden and Jeremy, and now Stanley and Johnny. They are so real to me, I just want to wrap them up in a thick quilt an insulate them from further harm. It makes me sad that I've lost the happy fluffiness of the first book, I mean, a little darkness crept in for How to Raise an Honest Rabbit, but A Knitter in His Natural Habitat took a full turn to the oh my god! dark side. It makes me wary and worried about what will befall my boys in the final installment. Though I know, in my heart, Amy Lane will not let me down and will, eventually, give me a happy ending.
Recommended!
Copy generously provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
October 4, 2020
Well it was a little funny, and there was some pretty dark stuff. Sadly not my favorite book in this series. I didn't really like either of the main characters, and I didn't quite "get" their attraction to each other. But it was an easy audiobook to listen to, and Philip Alces does a nice job.
November 18, 2012
I'm going to be forthright and declare ahead of time that anyone who knows me is aware of my special love for Amy. That being said, I love a lot of people...and even pets. I have a cairn terrorist whom I love very much but sometimes rolls around in owl horf he finds in the backyard. My point? I can love someone or something and still be rather disappointed in their behaviour.
Amy, however, does not disappoint.
I've never been a fan of bitchy, flighty men in my literature but Amy makes Stanley loveable. He really isn't that much of a princess. I think he is much more of one in his own mind than he truly is. And Johnny...well, I have another special love...that of a rough looking kind of guy with a gentle nature. Johnny delivers that.
Knitter is a tightly woven tale (did you see what I've done there? not intentional) of two men falling in lust, love and alpaca yarn. It's also a good progression of the storylines Amy's established in the previous “knitting” stories featuring Craw’s crew. Jeremy, one of the main characters in How To Raise An Honest Rabbit (#3 of this series), really is a star in this one as well, providing a key element in the final scenes. It’s always good to see Jeremy’s ability to social engineer a situation, falling into a patois to alter his character and fool others. It’s a sly way to reinforce the con-man background he has. Nicely done on that.
Now I don’t knit. Actually, I can’t think of anything more dangerous than to give me a pair of pointy things and a length of springy rope like material to play with. I would imagine a drunken octopus on ‘ludes would produce something better than me on a good day but I like how Amy portrays the zen state a knitter can achieve. I imagine it’s much like me playing Katamari Damacy. Except for the eventual nausea from watching the ball roll around. Still, she captures the visceral pleasure a knitter has in the craft. For those of us who have no hope in hell of ever touching a piece of yarn without it being cat toy, it’s a nice foray into a mystical place where people actually make something out of strands of puffy fuzz.
Stanley and Johnny are a great couple. Despite the sometimes heavy content of the book, their relationship comes across as an easy, lovely joining. The books’ a nice light read with guest appearances from other characters and also introducing a host of Stanley’s support system, each with their own special place in his heart. I also like the hand-off to the next book’s character in the end. I think I’ve owned that sweater. It’s a bitch when you HAVE to wear something you hate solely because someone made it for you.
The less said about a certain turquoise blue and tangerine acrylic yarn poncho, the better.
Amy, however, does not disappoint.
I've never been a fan of bitchy, flighty men in my literature but Amy makes Stanley loveable. He really isn't that much of a princess. I think he is much more of one in his own mind than he truly is. And Johnny...well, I have another special love...that of a rough looking kind of guy with a gentle nature. Johnny delivers that.
Knitter is a tightly woven tale (did you see what I've done there? not intentional) of two men falling in lust, love and alpaca yarn. It's also a good progression of the storylines Amy's established in the previous “knitting” stories featuring Craw’s crew. Jeremy, one of the main characters in How To Raise An Honest Rabbit (#3 of this series), really is a star in this one as well, providing a key element in the final scenes. It’s always good to see Jeremy’s ability to social engineer a situation, falling into a patois to alter his character and fool others. It’s a sly way to reinforce the con-man background he has. Nicely done on that.
Now I don’t knit. Actually, I can’t think of anything more dangerous than to give me a pair of pointy things and a length of springy rope like material to play with. I would imagine a drunken octopus on ‘ludes would produce something better than me on a good day but I like how Amy portrays the zen state a knitter can achieve. I imagine it’s much like me playing Katamari Damacy. Except for the eventual nausea from watching the ball roll around. Still, she captures the visceral pleasure a knitter has in the craft. For those of us who have no hope in hell of ever touching a piece of yarn without it being cat toy, it’s a nice foray into a mystical place where people actually make something out of strands of puffy fuzz.
Stanley and Johnny are a great couple. Despite the sometimes heavy content of the book, their relationship comes across as an easy, lovely joining. The books’ a nice light read with guest appearances from other characters and also introducing a host of Stanley’s support system, each with their own special place in his heart. I also like the hand-off to the next book’s character in the end. I think I’ve owned that sweater. It’s a bitch when you HAVE to wear something you hate solely because someone made it for you.
The less said about a certain turquoise blue and tangerine acrylic yarn poncho, the better.
May 18, 2015
3.5 stars
Admittedly, the romance didn't do much for me here. I loved Johnny and Stanley seperately, they were amazing characters but I didn't buy the insta love. It all felt too much too soon.
But I did like this book for three reasons:
-The sense of family. Not the one you were born with, but the one you found along the way. It took me back to the Promises series.
-Jeremy and Aidan. I loved them even more in this book.
-Well...hot men in wool...
Admittedly, the romance didn't do much for me here. I loved Johnny and Stanley seperately, they were amazing characters but I didn't buy the insta love. It all felt too much too soon.
But I did like this book for three reasons:
-The sense of family. Not the one you were born with, but the one you found along the way. It took me back to the Promises series.
-Jeremy and Aidan. I loved them even more in this book.
-Well...hot men in wool...
April 26, 2014
I adore Amy Lane. And I love the Granby Knitting series. But this book just did NOT do it for me. I didn’t find Stanley to be a likeable character. At all. Combine that with the insta-love going on with Stanley and Johnny, and this just wasn’t the book for me.
I will definitely read the next book in the series because it seems to focus on Aiden and Jeremy :)
I will definitely read the next book in the series because it seems to focus on Aiden and Jeremy :)
October 22, 2012
I really liked Stanley and his journey to figure out who he was meant to be, especially because he didn't have to become a hero to be a good guy. He's a self-described "aging slutty bottom" who decides his life isn't working, and takes a look at the parts that are good in search of a way to make it better. He takes up the zen of knitting, and the comfort of friends and the family you choose rather than the one you are born to.
I enjoyed Stanley's realization that he'd imbued a purely sexual relationship with Craw with too much meaning, and in the process realized that he wanted more from life. I loved how finding Johnny brought him out of his glittery and self-deprecating protective shell.
I had a tougher time getting a handle on Johnny. I liked him a lot, but didn't follow his choices, emotions or actions as well. Partly a consequence of the Stanley-centric POV I guess. He was great for Stanley, almost too good, although who can argue with that.
I appreciated the glimpse of the other couples, Crawford and Ben, Jeremy and Aiden, from the outside of their relationships. The climax is a train-wreck of bad decisions on the part of several characters, and bad luck. Jeremy more than paid his karmic debt, and I hope he and Aiden can repair the damage done to their relationship in the process. It might even lead to a better balance in the future.
BTW the author has given us a free little snippet of Jeremy and Aiden after the events in this book that is sweetly hopeful: Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night
One of the things I do appreciate from Amy Lane is that her women are such positive characters. They are not all wise or self-confident, but some are, and they almost all love the men in their lives, gay or straight, fiercely and with compassion tempered by humor. In a genre over-filled with bitchy, obstructive and unpleasant female characters (of whom I've written my share) Amy's books are filled with women I would love to have as friends.
I enjoyed Stanley's realization that he'd imbued a purely sexual relationship with Craw with too much meaning, and in the process realized that he wanted more from life. I loved how finding Johnny brought him out of his glittery and self-deprecating protective shell.
I had a tougher time getting a handle on Johnny. I liked him a lot, but didn't follow his choices, emotions or actions as well. Partly a consequence of the Stanley-centric POV I guess. He was great for Stanley, almost too good, although who can argue with that.
I appreciated the glimpse of the other couples, Crawford and Ben, Jeremy and Aiden, from the outside of their relationships. The climax is a train-wreck of bad decisions on the part of several characters, and bad luck. Jeremy more than paid his karmic debt, and I hope he and Aiden can repair the damage done to their relationship in the process. It might even lead to a better balance in the future.
BTW the author has given us a free little snippet of Jeremy and Aiden after the events in this book that is sweetly hopeful: Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night
One of the things I do appreciate from Amy Lane is that her women are such positive characters. They are not all wise or self-confident, but some are, and they almost all love the men in their lives, gay or straight, fiercely and with compassion tempered by humor. In a genre over-filled with bitchy, obstructive and unpleasant female characters (of whom I've written my share) Amy's books are filled with women I would love to have as friends.
October 30, 2012
I wasn't sure going into this if I was going to like Stanley, Craw's bathroom hookup from The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters, but I did...so very much. He is so bitchy and snarky but so extremely loyal and sweet. I loved him and I laughed out loud more than once at the things he said and thought.
Stanley is at loose ends. His hookups with Craw have ended since Ben came into the picture and he's not a club guy anymore. In a fit of wine induced pity he decides to learn how to knit and be celibate. Johnny the UPS delivery guy walks into the picture and into Stanley's heart. It's insta-love and works so well. I enjoyed Stanley and Johnny together they had so much chemistry and were just perfect for one another. They were sweet but not too sweet.
Johnny has a past and it catches up with him. We get a bit of angst here but nothing over the top. Lots of cameos from characters from the other books in the series and Ariadne is especially wonderful here as she and Stanley bond over knitting. If you enjoyed the other two books in the series you'll love this one. It's by no means standalone, you must read the others in the series to understand what is going on and get to know the players. Recommended!
Stanley is at loose ends. His hookups with Craw have ended since Ben came into the picture and he's not a club guy anymore. In a fit of wine induced pity he decides to learn how to knit and be celibate. Johnny the UPS delivery guy walks into the picture and into Stanley's heart. It's insta-love and works so well. I enjoyed Stanley and Johnny together they had so much chemistry and were just perfect for one another. They were sweet but not too sweet.
Johnny has a past and it catches up with him. We get a bit of angst here but nothing over the top. Lots of cameos from characters from the other books in the series and Ariadne is especially wonderful here as she and Stanley bond over knitting. If you enjoyed the other two books in the series you'll love this one. It's by no means standalone, you must read the others in the series to understand what is going on and get to know the players. Recommended!
July 10, 2017
This is a book you need to read as part of the series to really enjoy it but it has lots of its own charms.
Johnny is someone we know of from the previous book and his story is compelling. I am really happy he finds his prince.
Stanley, we also met in a previous book and he is great. He learns to be treasured and treasure himself and really value his life in this book.
The romance is a bit insta love but the dating is nice.
Johnny is someone we know of from the previous book and his story is compelling. I am really happy he finds his prince.
Stanley, we also met in a previous book and he is great. He learns to be treasured and treasure himself and really value his life in this book.
The romance is a bit insta love but the dating is nice.
October 20, 2012
2,5* upgrade for the cute cover
I totaly agree with Meep's review here. In my opinion there's no real connection between the MCs and the showdown with Jeremy is unbelievable and over the top.
I totaly agree with Meep's review here. In my opinion there's no real connection between the MCs and the showdown with Jeremy is unbelievable and over the top.
October 23, 2012
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
I admit, I was a bit worried to read this book. I loved Stanley in the past books (or at least, I knew I would once we got to know him better), but I loved How to Raise an Honest Rabbit so, so, so much, along with Jeremy, that I wasn't sure if this book could live up to my feelings about that one. In a way it did, but in some ways it didn't.
Stanley is an old party boy -- or at least, that's how he feels. Never has he had a real relationship, just quick fucks in clubs and one night stands. His "relationship" with Craw is a perfect example of this. Just sex, no strings. But when Stanley is shoved aside when Craw meets the love of his life, Ben, something changes in Stanley. He's sad, and suddenly his life doesn't seem so fabulous anymore. Could it be that he really wants something more?
In a style reminiscent of a How To Guide, Stanley decides to make over his life. First, he has to get rid of the men and focus on himself. And what better way to do that than by learning to knit? He knows, technically, how to knit, but not do anything more than garter stitch. And he's worked for years at a knitting store! Plus, knitting is permanent, and as the rhythm and care that goes into his projects starts to translate into his own life, he realizes just what hand-knitted items mean. They're personal, and so by knitting, Stanley finds that he's not quite as settled in his life as he thought. Knitting brings about new friends, a new life, and a new man -- who seems to go against all the rules of his old life.
This story sees the return of Stanley, Craw's past monthly arrangement in town whom we first met in the first Knitting book, The Winter Mating Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters. He's flamboyant and seems carefree, he's outrageously funny and a self-proclaimed slut who will bend over for just about anyone. He likes sex, it's just that until now, in his mid-thirties, he hasn't even considered what life might be like trying to get to know someone before he lets them screw him. It's a novel idea, and one that takes hold in his brief bout of manless depression just when he meets Johnny, the new deliveryman. It is important to read these stories in order, because of the way the characters are intertwined and how events happen in time. Because of that, we (the reader) know Johnny from the past book as Gianni, the man who saved Jeremy's life and allowed him to escape the mob. We also know his backstory, and the events that led to him turning state's evidence and now living in the area under the protection of WITSEC. Stanley, however, is not only blind to "Johnny's" past, but the whole relationship thing is new to him anyway.
I like Stanley in this book, he has real gumption and we get to see him really surprise himself. The change in his life and then his subsequent new relationship with Johnny teaches him a lot about himself, his past, and what is important to him. Watching him stumble through a series of revelations most go through in their twenties (he's a late bloomer!), paired with his humor and lack of filter, makes for an almost slapstick like prose. Stanley is almost always inserting his foot into his mouth, either by words or actions. He's flailing, trying to find solid ground since he jumped in feet first. Not only is that fun to watch, but it is also good because he learns how strong he is, and that was satisfying to read.
The problems I had stemmed mostly from the fact that this book had to be absolutely spectacular to live up to my feelings of the previous book. But, I did find the mob/mafia sub-plot to be somewhat strange. While it all made sense, and didn't bother me by itself, I found it left a lot less room for Stanley and Johnny to really get to know each other on page, and I missed that.
One thing that I love about this series, and this book carried on with this from the previous ones, was all the detail of knitting, yarn and production. I love reading about that, as a knitter, and reading these stories, this one especially, made me itch to pick up the needles. It is all about the joy of knitting, and what knitting really means. And I'm not sure that a non-knitter really understands, or might even find that sentiment hokey in these books. Watching Stanley in particular learn to knit was fun and carefree and I was always looking forward to what he was knitting next :)
Fans of this author and this series will definitely want to read this book, and I found it a really worthy addition to the others in the series. It might just make you want to learn to knit! Plus, if you haven't read any of Amy Lane's knitting novellas, you should check them out and remember that I said you should read them in the correct order.
Now, I'm off to knit!
I admit, I was a bit worried to read this book. I loved Stanley in the past books (or at least, I knew I would once we got to know him better), but I loved How to Raise an Honest Rabbit so, so, so much, along with Jeremy, that I wasn't sure if this book could live up to my feelings about that one. In a way it did, but in some ways it didn't.
Stanley is an old party boy -- or at least, that's how he feels. Never has he had a real relationship, just quick fucks in clubs and one night stands. His "relationship" with Craw is a perfect example of this. Just sex, no strings. But when Stanley is shoved aside when Craw meets the love of his life, Ben, something changes in Stanley. He's sad, and suddenly his life doesn't seem so fabulous anymore. Could it be that he really wants something more?
In a style reminiscent of a How To Guide, Stanley decides to make over his life. First, he has to get rid of the men and focus on himself. And what better way to do that than by learning to knit? He knows, technically, how to knit, but not do anything more than garter stitch. And he's worked for years at a knitting store! Plus, knitting is permanent, and as the rhythm and care that goes into his projects starts to translate into his own life, he realizes just what hand-knitted items mean. They're personal, and so by knitting, Stanley finds that he's not quite as settled in his life as he thought. Knitting brings about new friends, a new life, and a new man -- who seems to go against all the rules of his old life.
This story sees the return of Stanley, Craw's past monthly arrangement in town whom we first met in the first Knitting book, The Winter Mating Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters. He's flamboyant and seems carefree, he's outrageously funny and a self-proclaimed slut who will bend over for just about anyone. He likes sex, it's just that until now, in his mid-thirties, he hasn't even considered what life might be like trying to get to know someone before he lets them screw him. It's a novel idea, and one that takes hold in his brief bout of manless depression just when he meets Johnny, the new deliveryman. It is important to read these stories in order, because of the way the characters are intertwined and how events happen in time. Because of that, we (the reader) know Johnny from the past book as Gianni, the man who saved Jeremy's life and allowed him to escape the mob. We also know his backstory, and the events that led to him turning state's evidence and now living in the area under the protection of WITSEC. Stanley, however, is not only blind to "Johnny's" past, but the whole relationship thing is new to him anyway.
I like Stanley in this book, he has real gumption and we get to see him really surprise himself. The change in his life and then his subsequent new relationship with Johnny teaches him a lot about himself, his past, and what is important to him. Watching him stumble through a series of revelations most go through in their twenties (he's a late bloomer!), paired with his humor and lack of filter, makes for an almost slapstick like prose. Stanley is almost always inserting his foot into his mouth, either by words or actions. He's flailing, trying to find solid ground since he jumped in feet first. Not only is that fun to watch, but it is also good because he learns how strong he is, and that was satisfying to read.
The problems I had stemmed mostly from the fact that this book had to be absolutely spectacular to live up to my feelings of the previous book. But, I did find the mob/mafia sub-plot to be somewhat strange. While it all made sense, and didn't bother me by itself, I found it left a lot less room for Stanley and Johnny to really get to know each other on page, and I missed that.
One thing that I love about this series, and this book carried on with this from the previous ones, was all the detail of knitting, yarn and production. I love reading about that, as a knitter, and reading these stories, this one especially, made me itch to pick up the needles. It is all about the joy of knitting, and what knitting really means. And I'm not sure that a non-knitter really understands, or might even find that sentiment hokey in these books. Watching Stanley in particular learn to knit was fun and carefree and I was always looking forward to what he was knitting next :)
Fans of this author and this series will definitely want to read this book, and I found it a really worthy addition to the others in the series. It might just make you want to learn to knit! Plus, if you haven't read any of Amy Lane's knitting novellas, you should check them out and remember that I said you should read them in the correct order.
Now, I'm off to knit!
October 24, 2012
I adore Amy Lane's stories. I always feel a connection with her characters and what they go through to the point that I end up crying over them nonstop. Unfortunately, I struggled with this one.
It was hard for me to connect with Stanley because I felt like his character was forced.... or maybe I should say the story felt forced? Regardless, he wasn't a genuine character to me, if that makes any sense, so it was hard for me to even like him. His personality is shifty - one moment sweet and nice, the next extremely bitchy and catty - I wasn't feeling that at all. Then again, I wasn't too fond of Stanley before this book either and it didn't make me like him more when Stanley felt the need to blab to pretty much everyone that Johnny was in WITSEC and then give his whole story over again. He was in the program for a reason... and that was to keep his identity and his past life hidden... Stanley apparently didn't understand the concept of that, though. Johnny is an enigma, even though you know his situation. For some reason, I couldn't connect with him either, which is weird because I love mobsters - ex or otherwise.
Mostly, I struggled with this story. I've enjoyed this series so far but this one I just couldn't get into. I didn't feel like there was a connection between Stanley and Johnny at all. Even though they went on dates and talked about their lives, there was no spark, IMO, because there was always the underlining feeling that Johnny was only with Stanley because of his "sweet little bubble-butt". The situation regarding Johnny didn't quite make sense to me. How did Johnny's past catch up with him? I didn't understand. Usually, in series, I'm not all that fond of Amy Lane's desire to revisit past couples but in this one I found it a blessing because I enjoyed seeing Aiden and Jeremy again... although I was left scratching my head in how the whole conflict was taken care of and why Jeremy seemed almost eager to get the crap beaten out of him without calling for help or anything.
All in all, not my favorite Lane book. It was very hard to get through, and I think that might have been because there was a lot of telling from Stanley instead of showing, which made it difficult for me. Also, why did everyone feel the need to get Stanley to dump Johnny? Yeah, he was in the mob but I don't remember everyone trying to get Aiden to dump Jeremy cuz he's an ex-con (although I could be wrong) so why did everyone gang up on Stanley? Kudos to Stanley to sticking with him, though.
It was hard for me to connect with Stanley because I felt like his character was forced.... or maybe I should say the story felt forced? Regardless, he wasn't a genuine character to me, if that makes any sense, so it was hard for me to even like him. His personality is shifty - one moment sweet and nice, the next extremely bitchy and catty - I wasn't feeling that at all. Then again, I wasn't too fond of Stanley before this book either and it didn't make me like him more when Stanley felt the need to blab to pretty much everyone that Johnny was in WITSEC and then give his whole story over again. He was in the program for a reason... and that was to keep his identity and his past life hidden... Stanley apparently didn't understand the concept of that, though. Johnny is an enigma, even though you know his situation. For some reason, I couldn't connect with him either, which is weird because I love mobsters - ex or otherwise.
Mostly, I struggled with this story. I've enjoyed this series so far but this one I just couldn't get into. I didn't feel like there was a connection between Stanley and Johnny at all. Even though they went on dates and talked about their lives, there was no spark, IMO, because there was always the underlining feeling that Johnny was only with Stanley because of his "sweet little bubble-butt". The situation regarding Johnny didn't quite make sense to me. How did Johnny's past catch up with him? I didn't understand. Usually, in series, I'm not all that fond of Amy Lane's desire to revisit past couples but in this one I found it a blessing because I enjoyed seeing Aiden and Jeremy again... although I was left scratching my head in how the whole conflict was taken care of and why Jeremy seemed almost eager to get the crap beaten out of him without calling for help or anything.
All in all, not my favorite Lane book. It was very hard to get through, and I think that might have been because there was a lot of telling from Stanley instead of showing, which made it difficult for me. Also, why did everyone feel the need to get Stanley to dump Johnny? Yeah, he was in the mob but I don't remember everyone trying to get Aiden to dump Jeremy cuz he's an ex-con (although I could be wrong) so why did everyone gang up on Stanley? Kudos to Stanley to sticking with him, though.
January 21, 2013
I just read 3 of Amy Lane's knitting series books (The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters, How to Raise an Honest Rabbit and this one). I enjoyed these books tremendously, and I must say, this is the Amy Lane that I adore! No vampires or alternative universes, no heavy heavy angst, just astonishingly delightful quirky contemporaries with brilliantly-colored characters, beautiful prose and sweetness that can damn well kill you.
As a writer myself, I'm just in awe at Amy's turns of phrase, the natural, easy yet wise patter of her prose. I highlight a bunch in her books just because I love the language. Here's one from this book:
"She cut her graying hair short and didn't wear make-up and didn't do battle with time so much as just turn her back on the bitch and go about her business."
Love it. I also can't say enough about the characters in this series. I loved Jeremy and Johnny even though they had a rotten past, Adrian and Craw were solid like rock, and Stanley was hilarious.
Other than "Clear Water", which has been in my top 5 for some time, I think these are my favorite Amy Lane books. Thank you, dearest author!
As a writer myself, I'm just in awe at Amy's turns of phrase, the natural, easy yet wise patter of her prose. I highlight a bunch in her books just because I love the language. Here's one from this book:
"She cut her graying hair short and didn't wear make-up and didn't do battle with time so much as just turn her back on the bitch and go about her business."
Love it. I also can't say enough about the characters in this series. I loved Jeremy and Johnny even though they had a rotten past, Adrian and Craw were solid like rock, and Stanley was hilarious.
Other than "Clear Water", which has been in my top 5 for some time, I think these are my favorite Amy Lane books. Thank you, dearest author!
November 15, 2016
3.5 stars
Another cute addition to this wonderful series. Not my favorite one so far, but still very nice.
The reason I liked this a bit less than the other two was mainly Stanley. Stanley was a bit too crude at times for my taste, a bit too bitchy. But the romance was very sweet. Very insta-lovey, but somehow Amy Lane knows how to make that work.
The exciting mob stuff near the end almost killed me (in a good way), and I can’t wait to read the 4th book, since it’s about Jeremy and Aiden again.
Another cute addition to this wonderful series. Not my favorite one so far, but still very nice.
The reason I liked this a bit less than the other two was mainly Stanley. Stanley was a bit too crude at times for my taste, a bit too bitchy. But the romance was very sweet. Very insta-lovey, but somehow Amy Lane knows how to make that work.
The exciting mob stuff near the end almost killed me (in a good way), and I can’t wait to read the 4th book, since it’s about Jeremy and Aiden again.
November 4, 2015
This is my favorite of the series so far! I can't get enough of sinking to the colorful, comfortable, and soul-soothing world of these Knitting men and their friends!
April 1, 2024
2.5⭐
In this installment I'm afraid it's back to silly dialogues and impossible scenarios with this author, at least for my taste.
The main characters had a quick love story that didn't really work and combine that with a touch of the italian mob that was almost comical and you've got a silly book that had no business being that long.
🔵 Yarn seller / ex mobster
🟢 Both MMCs gay and over 30
🟣 Size difference
🟡 Witness protection, mob
🟠 Not much of a love story, no connection, no palpable chemistry
🔵 All side characters involved
🌶️ Some smut, not much, could be more; t/b
Stanley is a 35-year old gay man who lives in Boulder near Granby and is Craw's former hook-up of 5 years. He's sassy, bitchy and really has no depth, so when he meets Johnny from Jeremy's past life, it was blatantly just a hook-up and a cringe one at that. How these two went from 2 weeks of hook-ups to a mafia rundown to months of waiting for each other to be together is fucking beyond me.
🟡 Stanley starts knitting out of nowhere with 11 years of working in a yarn shop and not thinking about it even once and then all of a sudden he's a pro. Okay then.
"God, it beat the hell out of amyl nitrate—he’d had at least three regrettable encounters in college due to that little chemical nightmare. It’s not like yarn could be any worse!"
"Something strange—one of those weird tendrils that had bound Stanley to his knitting project—gave a little yank where Stanley’s chest hairs would be if he didn’t wax."
Okay. 😄 Fine, moving on to their silly dialogues that were supposed to be flirty? Cute? I don't know, they lost me, there was no connection or potential for something more and this was just a starter.
"Stanley pursed his lips consideringly. “I am too old to be a twinkie,” he conceded. His own grin turned evil. “So, you, uhm, like to eat cupcakes?”
“Only if they’re cream-filled,” Johnny said back, his voice so smooth it felt like a lubed flesh-jack on Stanley’s cock.
“Oh my,” he said, shivering. “I’m a big fan of cannoli myself.”
🔵 Johhny was a ridiculous mafia character. He was the stereotypical Italian mobster who spoke with an accent, was big, dark and hairy and spoke things like
“My mother let us watch two kinds of movies,” Johnny said bluntly. “The Godfather, I-IV, and anything by Martin Scorsese.”
Bahaha 😆 I mean yeah, and the other bad guys that came to beat up Jeremy in the end were also like from a bad movie
“Yo! Yo! Is anyone fuckin’ there? Get your ass out here, I need ya to answer my questions!”
“I get my clothes from a store like fuckin’ human bein’. No buying it in yarn and making do, ya fuckin’ retard.”
Coupled up with Stanley who's shutting off advances left and right because he's now faithful to the 2 week hook-up from the witness protection program that he doesn't even know will come back
"Stanley put his hand over his mouth and tried to stifle the giggles. He failed. “Are we a set-up?” he burbled. “Is this a date?”
Joshua looked sheepish and shrugged. “Well, you are, in her words, damned cute. You wanna?”
Stanley’s giggles faded. “Oh, you’re cute, sweetie—absolutely scrumptious, and you’d probably even top.”
“But…?” Joshua finished for him, looking sincerely disappointed, and that was flattering.
“But the love of my life is going to get out of witness protection soon enough. He’s worth waiting for.”
Oh right, right, the love of his life, right, how could I forget??
And they didn't even have sex more than once or twice, so not much of intimate moments in this book, more of the sassiness gone wrong and then inserting Jeremy and Aiden, who are by far the best couple and book in this series and then shitting all over them with Jeremy getting beat up instead of Stanley and having multiple surgeries on top of all the trauma he's been through already.
Yes, that seemed like the right way to go! Just what this knitting book needed. Here Stanley was knitting socks for a guy who was getting his face and teeth reconstructed at the hospital because the mob found Stanley's 2 week hook-up - pardon, love of his life - so knitting it is. Fits right in!
It was a terrible story, the witness protection and the mob part not really well thought out, at the end the government just pays all their hospital bills and Stanley and Johnny suddenly move in together and talk about forever - but of course they are.
It appears Aiden and Jeremy's book was a fluke, a rare episode of good writing and thought-out characters that had to blend in here as well, since we're following their story after they come out as a couple - all completely off-page - and the next installment is also about them.
In this installment I'm afraid it's back to silly dialogues and impossible scenarios with this author, at least for my taste.
The main characters had a quick love story that didn't really work and combine that with a touch of the italian mob that was almost comical and you've got a silly book that had no business being that long.
🔵 Yarn seller / ex mobster
🟢 Both MMCs gay and over 30
🟣 Size difference
🟡 Witness protection, mob
🟠 Not much of a love story, no connection, no palpable chemistry
🔵 All side characters involved
🌶️ Some smut, not much, could be more; t/b
Stanley is a 35-year old gay man who lives in Boulder near Granby and is Craw's former hook-up of 5 years. He's sassy, bitchy and really has no depth, so when he meets Johnny from Jeremy's past life, it was blatantly just a hook-up and a cringe one at that. How these two went from 2 weeks of hook-ups to a mafia rundown to months of waiting for each other to be together is fucking beyond me.
🟡 Stanley starts knitting out of nowhere with 11 years of working in a yarn shop and not thinking about it even once and then all of a sudden he's a pro. Okay then.
"God, it beat the hell out of amyl nitrate—he’d had at least three regrettable encounters in college due to that little chemical nightmare. It’s not like yarn could be any worse!"
"Something strange—one of those weird tendrils that had bound Stanley to his knitting project—gave a little yank where Stanley’s chest hairs would be if he didn’t wax."
Okay. 😄 Fine, moving on to their silly dialogues that were supposed to be flirty? Cute? I don't know, they lost me, there was no connection or potential for something more and this was just a starter.
"Stanley pursed his lips consideringly. “I am too old to be a twinkie,” he conceded. His own grin turned evil. “So, you, uhm, like to eat cupcakes?”
“Only if they’re cream-filled,” Johnny said back, his voice so smooth it felt like a lubed flesh-jack on Stanley’s cock.
“Oh my,” he said, shivering. “I’m a big fan of cannoli myself.”
🔵 Johhny was a ridiculous mafia character. He was the stereotypical Italian mobster who spoke with an accent, was big, dark and hairy and spoke things like
“My mother let us watch two kinds of movies,” Johnny said bluntly. “The Godfather, I-IV, and anything by Martin Scorsese.”
Bahaha 😆 I mean yeah, and the other bad guys that came to beat up Jeremy in the end were also like from a bad movie
“Yo! Yo! Is anyone fuckin’ there? Get your ass out here, I need ya to answer my questions!”
“I get my clothes from a store like fuckin’ human bein’. No buying it in yarn and making do, ya fuckin’ retard.”
Coupled up with Stanley who's shutting off advances left and right because he's now faithful to the 2 week hook-up from the witness protection program that he doesn't even know will come back
"Stanley put his hand over his mouth and tried to stifle the giggles. He failed. “Are we a set-up?” he burbled. “Is this a date?”
Joshua looked sheepish and shrugged. “Well, you are, in her words, damned cute. You wanna?”
Stanley’s giggles faded. “Oh, you’re cute, sweetie—absolutely scrumptious, and you’d probably even top.”
“But…?” Joshua finished for him, looking sincerely disappointed, and that was flattering.
“But the love of my life is going to get out of witness protection soon enough. He’s worth waiting for.”
Oh right, right, the love of his life, right, how could I forget??
And they didn't even have sex more than once or twice, so not much of intimate moments in this book, more of the sassiness gone wrong and then inserting Jeremy and Aiden, who are by far the best couple and book in this series and then shitting all over them with Jeremy getting beat up instead of Stanley and having multiple surgeries on top of all the trauma he's been through already.
Yes, that seemed like the right way to go! Just what this knitting book needed. Here Stanley was knitting socks for a guy who was getting his face and teeth reconstructed at the hospital because the mob found Stanley's 2 week hook-up - pardon, love of his life - so knitting it is. Fits right in!
It was a terrible story, the witness protection and the mob part not really well thought out, at the end the government just pays all their hospital bills and Stanley and Johnny suddenly move in together and talk about forever - but of course they are.
It appears Aiden and Jeremy's book was a fluke, a rare episode of good writing and thought-out characters that had to blend in here as well, since we're following their story after they come out as a couple - all completely off-page - and the next installment is also about them.
October 20, 2012
In the same tradition as the first two books in this series, 'Knitter in his Natural Habitat' is more than a love story between two men who are each trying to deal with their pasts as well as their newfound love. It is also the story of Stanley coming to terms with what he really wants from life, and a partner, and Johnny finally getting what he's always wanted: a man to love who loves him back. And, of course, it is about knitting and the almost miraculous benefits attributed to it. I was immediately invested in this story, not just because Stanley's story proved to be particularly interesting after what we saw of him in the second book. I was also really looking forward to finding out what was going on in Granby and everybody's lives there.
Stanley is a man who doesn’t have a lot of self-confidence, doesn’t believe he is worth being loved, and ends up having a string of one-night stands and quick encounters in club bathrooms. It takes a lot out of him, but when his most steady partner (whom he always met in the bathroom over lunch) falls in love and stops seeing him, Stanley decides it is time for a change. He wants something more meaningful, and he finally admits that what he's been doing isn't exactly the way to find Mr. Right. He withdraws from the scene and knitting becomes a symbol of wanting a commitment for him. He's never knitted before, despite working in a craft shop, but once he does, the changes are amazing.
Johnny, the new delivery man, is exactly what Stanley has been dreaming of: he is tender, doesn’t believe in quickies in bathrooms, and actually wants to date Stanley. Johnny has his own secrets, and it became pretty clear to me who he was (based on what happened in the first two books) early on, but Stanley takes a little longer. Johnny's past doesn’t leave them alone, though, and they each need to face some pretty horrible obstacles before they can be together. But both of them are determined to do this right, so they have little choice but to go by the book.
This is a touching love story, and shows some wonderful character growth in Stanley. His hesitant steps into a life where he is lovable and worth someone's attention are initially small, but it was encouraging to see how he gained confidence. His internal dialog, and his thoughts and reflections are written in a vice that is uniquely his, and I loved how real and even desperate he sounded at times. The group of secondary characters is as wonderful as ever. They are as much a part of each of these stories as the main characters, and their support makes a big difference to Stanley.
If you like lots of angst and drama, if you prefer your romances to be about real men with real flaws and issues, and if your looking for a book that will pull you in and make you suffer and cry along with the characters, then you will probably love this book as much as I did.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Stanley is a man who doesn’t have a lot of self-confidence, doesn’t believe he is worth being loved, and ends up having a string of one-night stands and quick encounters in club bathrooms. It takes a lot out of him, but when his most steady partner (whom he always met in the bathroom over lunch) falls in love and stops seeing him, Stanley decides it is time for a change. He wants something more meaningful, and he finally admits that what he's been doing isn't exactly the way to find Mr. Right. He withdraws from the scene and knitting becomes a symbol of wanting a commitment for him. He's never knitted before, despite working in a craft shop, but once he does, the changes are amazing.
Johnny, the new delivery man, is exactly what Stanley has been dreaming of: he is tender, doesn’t believe in quickies in bathrooms, and actually wants to date Stanley. Johnny has his own secrets, and it became pretty clear to me who he was (based on what happened in the first two books) early on, but Stanley takes a little longer. Johnny's past doesn’t leave them alone, though, and they each need to face some pretty horrible obstacles before they can be together. But both of them are determined to do this right, so they have little choice but to go by the book.
This is a touching love story, and shows some wonderful character growth in Stanley. His hesitant steps into a life where he is lovable and worth someone's attention are initially small, but it was encouraging to see how he gained confidence. His internal dialog, and his thoughts and reflections are written in a vice that is uniquely his, and I loved how real and even desperate he sounded at times. The group of secondary characters is as wonderful as ever. They are as much a part of each of these stories as the main characters, and their support makes a big difference to Stanley.
If you like lots of angst and drama, if you prefer your romances to be about real men with real flaws and issues, and if your looking for a book that will pull you in and make you suffer and cry along with the characters, then you will probably love this book as much as I did.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 29, 2016
Stanley, a yarn-store manager with hair plugs and a long list of short hook-ups, finds himself in the unlikeliest of relationships with Johnny, a hot Italian from Jeremy’s past. Johnny’s past just wrecks me and I seriously love that these two lonely, loving men find each other. 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review..
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review..
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
September 12, 2014
I was half-way through this book when I recommended this series to a friend. We are both avid knitters and spinners. What could be better than m/m romance? M/M romance with knitting and spinning as integral parts of the storylines. I love this series! It completely lets me indulge in my two favorite hobbies. Especially since I've been listening to it on audio, so I can knit at the same time. Ha!!
August 27, 2015
Not my favorite of the series. I think it's because I didn't believe their relationship. What was it about Stanley that Johnny wanted so much? I still cried my eyes out though. Gotta suspend your belief a bit though. Especially with the whole WITSEC thing and Stanley being a blabbermouth.
August 31, 2021
My cute knitting small town just got dangerous!!! This book definitely had a differnt tone than the previous too books. It was still enjoyable but was not what I was expecting. The action was definitely more as danger entered the town. I am glad Stanley had an opportunity at a HEA. I was sad about the things that happened to Jeremy. But we all know sometimes your past comes back to bite you. It was still a good read so on to the last one in this series. I simply just don't know what to expect.
December 13, 2015
3.5 to 4 Stars, Pretty much almost a four.
Warning: I'm hopped up on cold meds. These are my thoughts as best I can cobble them under the influence of the strongest over-the-counter decongestants available. Don't ask how I'm doing because being sick really just pisses me off. But I'll tell you: I'm doing great, getting better every day. I'm in that stage of having sexy, sultry Kathleen Turner voice that I'd like to keep awhile so I can work on my life-long dream of being a lounge singer. If only I had a grand piano to sprawl across..or a decent singing voice. I've digressed. A lot.
This is pretty much classic Amy Lane.
And one of the many examples of why I love her stories.
Did ya see that cover?
There’s that adorable, fuzzy lambikins decked out in an adorable knitted sweater and adorable knitted hat, his little knock-kneed legs, and those ears that look so soft, and those lil’ lamby lips smilin’ a lil’ lamby smile. The background of skeins of colorful yarn that would make any granny…sorry, can’t go there about grannies…that would make many a knitter/yarn enthusiast quiver with glee.
You’re not sure what you’re gonna get with an Amy Lane book. The title, cover, and blurb don’t always quite give you all the info you need.
It’s always worth the risk though.
Even when you think you’re settling in to a cozy read about folks with an affinity for fuzzy-wuzzy lambs and knitting falling in love with people who love them for who they are with their quirky yarn philosophies and stuff-n-stuff, with a side of hot chocolate and marshmallows.
‘Cause, see? This is when !Amy Lane! will smack you upside the head with STUFF you’re not prepared for. THINGS begin to HAPPEN.
Your emotions get cranked through the wringer and juuust when you think that crank can’t go another round Amy Lane throws a little extra muscle into it for good measure.
You might cry…like I did just a little bit. You might laugh…like I did a lot. You might get a little tense, or angry, or scared…like I did some. And your heart might beat a little faster because of all the feels. But, in the end you know down to your toes that her characters belong together. They’ve earned it.
So these characters…these are now my people. I’ve adopted them. All of them. I’m packing my bags as I type (I’m talented like that) and moving to some little town named Granby, Colorado I’d never heard of before this series. I don’t know nothin’ bout living in the mountains with snow and ice and stuff. And I don’t know how to knit a lick. I’m starting to think I might want to learn how so they’ll keep me.
This story about an aging (NOT OLD!) hoorish, snarky queen meeting a hot Eye-talian guy fresh out of the family kind of family and learning aaaaall about what love is supposed to be was fun and goodness with lots of sweet—and a few dashes of tense and some delightful purls of wisdom. (See what I did there? A knitting pun!) It’s kind of insta-love, which often doesn’t work for me. But, these guys have to work for it in life-altering ways that make me feel like it’ll stick.
I still think book two was my favorite in the series, but this was a blast and book four is definitely on my TBR list.
Also posted on BackPorchReader.com.
Warning: I'm hopped up on cold meds. These are my thoughts as best I can cobble them under the influence of the strongest over-the-counter decongestants available. Don't ask how I'm doing because being sick really just pisses me off. But I'll tell you: I'm doing great, getting better every day. I'm in that stage of having sexy, sultry Kathleen Turner voice that I'd like to keep awhile so I can work on my life-long dream of being a lounge singer. If only I had a grand piano to sprawl across..or a decent singing voice. I've digressed. A lot.
This is pretty much classic Amy Lane.
And one of the many examples of why I love her stories.
Did ya see that cover?
There’s that adorable, fuzzy lambikins decked out in an adorable knitted sweater and adorable knitted hat, his little knock-kneed legs, and those ears that look so soft, and those lil’ lamby lips smilin’ a lil’ lamby smile. The background of skeins of colorful yarn that would make any granny…sorry, can’t go there about grannies…that would make many a knitter/yarn enthusiast quiver with glee.
You’re not sure what you’re gonna get with an Amy Lane book. The title, cover, and blurb don’t always quite give you all the info you need.
It’s always worth the risk though.
Even when you think you’re settling in to a cozy read about folks with an affinity for fuzzy-wuzzy lambs and knitting falling in love with people who love them for who they are with their quirky yarn philosophies and stuff-n-stuff, with a side of hot chocolate and marshmallows.
‘Cause, see? This is when !Amy Lane! will smack you upside the head with STUFF you’re not prepared for. THINGS begin to HAPPEN.
Your emotions get cranked through the wringer and juuust when you think that crank can’t go another round Amy Lane throws a little extra muscle into it for good measure.
You might cry…like I did just a little bit. You might laugh…like I did a lot. You might get a little tense, or angry, or scared…like I did some. And your heart might beat a little faster because of all the feels. But, in the end you know down to your toes that her characters belong together. They’ve earned it.
So these characters…these are now my people. I’ve adopted them. All of them. I’m packing my bags as I type (I’m talented like that) and moving to some little town named Granby, Colorado I’d never heard of before this series. I don’t know nothin’ bout living in the mountains with snow and ice and stuff. And I don’t know how to knit a lick. I’m starting to think I might want to learn how so they’ll keep me.
This story about an aging (NOT OLD!) hoorish, snarky queen meeting a hot Eye-talian guy fresh out of the family kind of family and learning aaaaall about what love is supposed to be was fun and goodness with lots of sweet—and a few dashes of tense and some delightful purls of wisdom. (See what I did there? A knitting pun!) It’s kind of insta-love, which often doesn’t work for me. But, these guys have to work for it in life-altering ways that make me feel like it’ll stick.
I still think book two was my favorite in the series, but this was a blast and book four is definitely on my TBR list.
Also posted on BackPorchReader.com.
November 30, 2014
A good solid read from Ms. Lane. I think book #3, How to Raise an Honest Rabbit, is still my favorite of this series, but I enjoyed this one. Not super steamy but nice relationship development, if a bit fast. More of getting to know Stanley than the two of them together. That was okay, since it made it more the story of Stanley maturing and finding love, although I would have liked to get to know Johnny better. Although book #1, The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters, was meh for me, I am glad that I met Stanley in passing to at least have a basis. Similarly, we knew some about Johnny from Jeremy's book.
Not much to say other than that. It's the same narrator as the other books, and I still like him. I do think that he could have done a better of job of making Johnny's voice more uniquely Italian/East Coast/mobster, as it was relatively neutral, but I wouldn't have wanted him to sound like a caricature either.
I did accidentally read the blurb for book #5, Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny's Lair, and unfortunately there was a bit of a spoiler that made the climax of this book less... climactic. But if I hadn't known I would have been on the edge of my seat, and it was a good lead in to follow up with Aiden and Jeremy in the next book, and I can't wait! I'll reiterate that I really like this series in audio format because they're fairly light and the perfect length for a few days of commuting. It's not Ms. Lane's all-time best series, but it's fun and light and I'm quite smitten with the residents of Granby. Makes me want to take up knitting! GAH!
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
Not much to say other than that. It's the same narrator as the other books, and I still like him. I do think that he could have done a better of job of making Johnny's voice more uniquely Italian/East Coast/mobster, as it was relatively neutral, but I wouldn't have wanted him to sound like a caricature either.
I did accidentally read the blurb for book #5, Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny's Lair, and unfortunately there was a bit of a spoiler that made the climax of this book less... climactic. But if I hadn't known I would have been on the edge of my seat, and it was a good lead in to follow up with Aiden and Jeremy in the next book, and I can't wait! I'll reiterate that I really like this series in audio format because they're fairly light and the perfect length for a few days of commuting. It's not Ms. Lane's all-time best series, but it's fun and light and I'm quite smitten with the residents of Granby. Makes me want to take up knitting! GAH!
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
November 13, 2012
3.5 Stars
In this latest installment of the Knitting series, we revisit with Stanley Shulze who is working as a floor designer for a series of craft stores in Boulder, Colorado. After Craw breaks off their deliveries-with-benefits relationship, Stanley begins to reevaluate his life. As part of this self-assessment process, Stanley takes up knitting. Although he's not living the stuff of his dreams (i.e., to be a big time art dealer), he realizes that he's forged a comfy life for himself. He has (an adopted) family and friends; he's happy and content. And then, in walks the store’s new delivery boy, Johnny Russo (aka Gianni Caprisi). Johnny is the chocolate to Stanley's peanut butter and so unlike the anonymous partners of his past. As they forge a friendship and ultimately a romance, Johnny's previous life comes back to haunt them. Knitter in His Natural Habitat is Johnny and Stanley's story of finding and fighting for their other half.
I enjoyed this story. I liked both Stanley and Johnny. I LOVE friends to lovers tales and although this romance started pretty quickly, the two didn't hop into the sack right off the bat. Yay! Stanley's bitchiness and snarky comments were funny and entertaining. As usual, I LOVED revisiting Craw and the gang. Stanley's adopted family was cool and I especially liked reading about some of the knitting shop patrons. The confrontation with the brutes from Johnny's past was painfully realistic and I cringed at Stanley's description.
Bottom line: a fun read about Johnny and Stanley's HEA.
Re-Read on 12/26/13: I love, Love, LOVE Stanley. :)
In this latest installment of the Knitting series, we revisit with Stanley Shulze who is working as a floor designer for a series of craft stores in Boulder, Colorado. After Craw breaks off their deliveries-with-benefits relationship, Stanley begins to reevaluate his life. As part of this self-assessment process, Stanley takes up knitting. Although he's not living the stuff of his dreams (i.e., to be a big time art dealer), he realizes that he's forged a comfy life for himself. He has (an adopted) family and friends; he's happy and content. And then, in walks the store’s new delivery boy, Johnny Russo (aka Gianni Caprisi). Johnny is the chocolate to Stanley's peanut butter and so unlike the anonymous partners of his past. As they forge a friendship and ultimately a romance, Johnny's previous life comes back to haunt them. Knitter in His Natural Habitat is Johnny and Stanley's story of finding and fighting for their other half.
I enjoyed this story. I liked both Stanley and Johnny. I LOVE friends to lovers tales and although this romance started pretty quickly, the two didn't hop into the sack right off the bat. Yay! Stanley's bitchiness and snarky comments were funny and entertaining. As usual, I LOVED revisiting Craw and the gang. Stanley's adopted family was cool and I especially liked reading about some of the knitting shop patrons. The confrontation with the brutes from Johnny's past was painfully realistic and I cringed at Stanley's description.
Bottom line: a fun read about Johnny and Stanley's HEA.
Re-Read on 12/26/13: I love, Love, LOVE Stanley. :)
November 15, 2012
I LOVED The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters and I had very high hopes for How to Raise an Honest Rabbit, which BTW was good, but I wasn't as in love as I was with the first book. Then this. I just...I don't know what to say. IMO the storyline was not up to par with her other stories .
I didn't connect with the characters and in fact Stanely reminded me of Jeff from the Promise Rock series (I loved Jeff's character but Stanley came off as campy and self centered). The first conversation between 'Johnny' and Stanley made me want to throw rocks at my computer.
I was really disappointed in this installment of the Knitter series because of how much I loved the first book. I am still a superfan of Amy Lane but I don't know if I will continue this series if there are any more books.
I didn't connect with the characters and in fact Stanely reminded me of Jeff from the Promise Rock series (I loved Jeff's character but Stanley came off as campy and self centered). The first conversation between 'Johnny' and Stanley made me want to throw rocks at my computer.
I was really disappointed in this installment of the Knitter series because of how much I loved the first book. I am still a superfan of Amy Lane but I don't know if I will continue this series if there are any more books.
October 21, 2015
3.5 stars
Therapy by yarn. That is the crux of this series, and the title certainly gives this story away. Being very much into working with textiles and needlework (though I haven’t figured out how to knit and read at the same time…), that is the draw for me. This, and people finding their sense of belonging.
This book goes a little too far, though, lays it on a little too thick. It tries too hard to hit a humorous mood that doesn’t quite click. And these guys fall towards each other very fast. I do like the idea of love at first sight. So romantic. But here… it’s too soon, too much.
I like Stanley and Johnny but I think maybe I care more about Aiden, Jeremy, Ben, and the big guy, Craw. I never really cozied up to Stanley from the earlier stories. Here, his story heats up in the last twenty-five percent when the mobster WITSEC plot kicks in. That was my favorite part of the read. As usual, Lane has moments of brilliance in the writing, and this is a feel-good story about making community. I’ll most likely be reading the next one.
November 15, 2012
I'm starting to wonder whether its possible for Amy Lane to write anything that is less than 4 out of 5 stars. This 4th book in the Knitting Series was more than what I thought it would be. First off, the author has continued to have the other characters in the area appear in and out of the successive books and, frankly, I LOVE THAT! It feels like family. You fall in love with these people and when the book is done you still want to know "what happens next"? So, here the author gave us more of the rest of the "family".
Secondly, I wasn't prepared to love Stanley as much as I did. Having had glimpses of him in the other books I wasn't real impressed with what I considered to be an aging, narcissistic, self-involved queen. But, Stanley became more during the course of the book. As he said he became "emotionally mature".
The story is wonderful and just keeps making me think hard about taking a knitting class.
Read the series and this book. You won't regret it.
Secondly, I wasn't prepared to love Stanley as much as I did. Having had glimpses of him in the other books I wasn't real impressed with what I considered to be an aging, narcissistic, self-involved queen. But, Stanley became more during the course of the book. As he said he became "emotionally mature".
The story is wonderful and just keeps making me think hard about taking a knitting class.
Read the series and this book. You won't regret it.
January 3, 2014
For my honest and true view of this book, please read …MORE
Goodreads TOS-compliant review (I think, let me know when they tell us what the rules are):
"The book I just read is about two (or three) lovely people, written in beautiful language, by a very good and prolific author. I liked it very, very much.
It is for sale on Amazon.”
DISCLAIMER: My reviews now all have this pretty face, so that all and everyone on Goodreads can stay happy and beatific. I’ll let you know if I change my mind. See the real review above for my thoughts on this book.
Goodreads TOS-compliant review (I think, let me know when they tell us what the rules are):
"The book I just read is about two (or three) lovely people, written in beautiful language, by a very good and prolific author. I liked it very, very much.
It is for sale on Amazon.”
DISCLAIMER: My reviews now all have this pretty face, so that all and everyone on Goodreads can stay happy and beatific. I’ll let you know if I change my mind. See the real review above for my thoughts on this book.
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