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Though I don’t have the time for it that I used to, I love knitting. I enjoy watching my sometimes clumsy hands weave things into being out of the yarn, but perhaps more importantly, I love how it can be an inclusive and communal craft. Online and offline, knitting communities seem to spring up wherever one can find yarn. Real Men Knit captures this beautifully, and I loved this warm hug of a book.
As the book opens, we learn that the much-loved Mama Joy has died, leaving her four adopted sons grieving her loss and also not entirely certain what to do about her shop, Strong Knits. And then there’s Kerry Fuller. Kerry grew up in the neighborhood, and Mama Joy and Strong Knits have been the center of her world. She worked there while completing her degree, and the shop is clearly home to her.
That idea of the knitting shop as a home runs clearly throughout the book. As the story develops, we learn more about Mama Joy and about how her shop in Harlem did more than just sell yarn. With knitting circles and ever-expanding service projects to the neighborhood, I got the distinct impression that, in many ways, this shop gave as much as it got.
The community nature of the shop explains why the Strong brothers have such difficulty deciding what to do. As one brother points out, the shop wasn’t the world’s biggest moneymaker in Mama Joy’s later years. However, Jesse Strong, youngest of the brothers, could see that their corner of Harlem would lose more than just a store if it were to close, and he pushes for the chance to keep it open. And so it begins.
Much of the first half of the book deals with the adjustments being made following Mama Joy’s death, as well as introducing readers to the Strong brothers and to Kerry. We learn pretty quickly that Jesse is the least settled of the four brothers, still trying to find his calling and definitely something of the neighborhood heartbreaker. Kerry clearly knows Jesse’s reputation, so even if he’s gorgeous, she’s keeping her distance emotionally – even if she has been attracted to him for the last while.
Since Kerry is on board with Jesse’s plan to save the store, keeping her distance is easier said than done. When they are working together, it is obvious that in addition to being longtime friends, they have great chemistry. If you like a slow-burn, this is going to be your thing, because the romance in this book builds gradually, and the leads don’t really get together until the second half of the book. However, that building chemistry and the vivid portrait of the family and their role in the neighborhood kept me completely engaged.
I will admit that Jesse’s past ‘love them and leave them’ attitude towards women made it a little hard for me to warm up to him at first. I wanted to see how he would treat Kerry, but I also wanted to see what, if anything, he would do to make amends for his past. He did make welcome steps in that direction, but I wanted to see a little more of his change of heart.
However, even with that quibble, I adored this novel. While the romance is central to the plot, much time is also spent developing the family dynamics of the entire Strong family. I enjoyed being welcomed into their midst, and I can’t wait to read more. Here’s hoping for a sequel!
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent bookstore
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Grade: B+
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 23/05/20
Publication Date: 05/2020
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
I enjoy spending as much time as I can between the covers of a book, traveling through time and around the world. When I'm not having adventures with fictional characters, I'm an attorney in Virginia and I love just hanging out with my husband, little man, and the cat who rules our house.
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Finished this last night. Lynn has written a great review and, as someone who is a quilter but has not yet mastered knitting, I loved the setting and the store’s important role in the community. If anything, it didn’t get to play a big enough role in moving the plot forward (e.g. why was the store closed for so much of the book?). The concept for this book had so much going for it (including lots of interesting characters) but it just lacked . . . forward momentum? I like a good slow burn romance, but I found myself skimming in the second half looking for the dialog. I would have enjoyed more interaction between all the characters, but really needed it between the MCs. I wanted more actual communication and honesty from them, and fewer endless, internal monologs about why the MCs can’t have/don’t deserve each other – when there was really nothing standing in their way except themselves as far as I could see. Which made the HEA – which eventually comes – seem rushed and less than satisfying.
Having said that, I hope there are more books in the series. The brothers and Val all have potential for interesting stories. The store and community center are great settings. Just more dialog next time!
I’ve heard some mixed things on this one! Will check it out.
I recently read a fantasy Paladin’s Grace by T.Kingfisher and the Hero, who was a knight and a berserker, would pull out his knitting in any ‘down’ time. He knitted socks because soldiers always need socks. It was such an endearing element of the story, a Hero who knits.
The newest (not out yet) Annabeth Albert also features knotting as a hobby! I’ve tried – and failed – to knit. I like it as hobby in these stories!
I too am happy to see this review and grade, as I’ve been eying it. It sounds great for lots of reasons but I’m drawn also to the knitting aspect as a communal craft. I have friends in knitting circles and it always sounds so appealing. I’m not crafty though and have never caught on to it.
LYNN. $9.99?!?!?!
It’s Berkley. That’s a pretty typical price. They price their ebooks like paperbacks. I liked the book too Lynn, great review.
I made 2 comments on this book! The first listed all the reasons this book sounded so great – including the slow burn, opportunity for future stories, and a new to me author. Also, I think this is a great review. It’s sort of embarrassing that only the cost one appears here – out of context. The price is steep, but it sounds like it might be worth it .
I’m all about the slow burn! I had my eye on this weeks ago & looked forward to this review. I’m happy to read your liked it. New to me author, friends to lovers, potential for 3 more great books…I’m in Lynn!