Series Catch Up: Knitting in the City series by Penny Reid

Posted February 6, 2016 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Book Review / 2 Comments

Series Catch Up: Knitting in the City series by Penny ReidNeanderthal Marries Human by Penny Reid
Series: Knitting in the City #1.5
Published by Caped Publishing on June 14th 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 410
Format: eBook
Source: Library
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three-flames
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There are three things you should know about Quinn Sullivan: 1) He is madly in love with Janie Morris, 2) He’s not above playing dirty to get what (or who) he wants, and 3) He doesn’t know how to knit.

After just five months of dating Janie, Quinn—former Wendell and unapologetic autocrat—is ready to propose marriage. In fact, he’s more than ready. If it were up to Quinn, he would efficiently propose, marry, and beget Janie with child all in the same day—thereby avoiding the drama and angst that accompanies the four stages of pre-matrimony: engagement, meeting the parents, bachelor/bachelorette party, and overblown, superfluous wedding day traditions. But Janie, much to Quinn’s dismay, tosses a wrench in his efficacious endeavors and challenges him to prove his devotion by going through the matrimonial motions, no matter how minute and mundane.

Will Quinn last until the wedding day? Or will he yield to his tyrant impulses?

Regardless, one thing is for certain, Quinn Sullivan will have to learn to expect the Spanish Inquisition (i.e. the unexpected) if he plans to have and keep Janie Morris as his wife.

 

Icon Library Book  icon smart funny  icon 2016 Fave
 

Crack. Penny Reid is CRACK. I have no hope for a cure.

I love this genre of more realistic, contemporary romance. No it’s still fiction with some things which are over the top but there is more depth emotionally and the issues are more real life than the romances of old.

And Penny Reid makes me laugh!

This is wonderful.  If you love Janie and McHotpants, and who doesn’t, you will love this.  It’s the story of their getting married.  It is about love and family and the compromises one makes for them which end up not being compromised at all.

 


 

Series Catch Up: Knitting in the City series by Penny ReidFriends Without Benefits by Penny Reid
Series: Knitting in the City #2
Published by Caped Publishing on September 29, 2013
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 424
Format: eBook
Source: Library
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One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she's unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, “benefits” with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth’s plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello- her former nemesis- she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution or, worse, falling in love.

 

Elizabeth is Janie’s friend and longtime roomie.  This gives us her story and another view of Janie’s story as it happened.  I love her sarcasm and intelligence.  The whole thing with Ken Miles is HILARIOUS.  Ugh. Nico and his family are amazing.  It’s cool they have known each other most of their lives and their mothers were best friends.  Nico has seriously swoon-worthy things to say, surprising for a comedian.

 


 

Series Catch Up: Knitting in the City series by Penny ReidLove Hacked by Penny Reid
Series: Knitting in the City #3
Published by Caped Publishing on March 3, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 390
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Goodreads
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three-flames
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

There are three things you need to know about Sandra Fielding: 1) She makes all her first dates cry, 2) She hasn't been kissed in over two years, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Sandra has difficulty removing her psychotherapist hat. Of her last 30 dates, 29 have ended the same way: the man sobbing uncontrollably. After one such disaster, Sandra--near desperation and maybe a little tipsy--gives in to a seemingly harmless encounter with her hot waiter, Alex. Argumentative, secretive, and hostile Alex may be the opposite of everything Sandra knows is right for her. But now, the girl who has spent all her life helping others change for the better, must find a way to cope with falling for someone who refuses to change at all.

This is a full-length, 110k word novel and is the third book in the Knitting in the City series. All books in the series can be read as a standalone

 

I love these smart, funny women and Sandra is no exception, she might be the ruler.  But they also have smart and sometimes funny men.  They are just odd enough to all feel real, mostly.  They all have a bit too much money and “celebrity” to be real but they live mostly ordinary lives with problems and pleasures like everyone.   Sandra also is an awesome knitter – bonus!    Alex breaks my heart.  I love his reading and smarts.

 


 

Series Catch Up: Knitting in the City series by Penny ReidBeauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid
Series: Knitting in the City #4
Published by Caped Publishing on August 28, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 387
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Goodreads
AmazonBarnes & Noble
three-flames
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

There are three things you need to know about Ashley Winston: 1) She has six brothers and they all have beards, 2) She is a reader, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Former beauty queen, Ashley Winston’s preferred coping strategy is escapism. She escaped her Tennessee small town, loathsome father, and six brothers eight years ago. Now she escapes life daily via her Amazon kindle one-click addiction. However, when a family tragedy forces her to return home, Ashley can’t escape the notice of Drew Runous— local Game Warden, bear wrestler, philosopher, and everyone’s favorite guy. Drew’s irksome philosophizing in particular makes Ashley want to run for the skyscrapers, especially since he can’t seem to keep his exasperating opinions— or his soulful poetry, steadfast support, and delightful hands— to himself. Pretty soon the girl who wanted nothing more than the escape of the big city finds she’s lost her heart in small town Tennessee.

 

This isn’t my favorite romance in the series and yet it might be my favorite book.  Penny Reid has captured my heart and mind and obviously I don’t want it back.    I was delighted to get to know Ashley and her hillbilly brothers and I seem to recall another series so I think I will have the pleasure of getting to know them better.

I felt so much here, getting to know Ashley, her time with her mother and her brothers.  I wanted even more of her with her brothers.  I have always wished I had a big family and a whole group of close friends like this knitting group.  Reading has brought that to me more than anything, and knitting.   

Ashley’s friends know she is going into a difficult time and so they pack her some stuff to help her out.

 


Giggle worthy quote:   

 

“…. less stressful for people who are married or in a serious relationship, presumably because of the comfort they receive from their significant other. Part of that, Janie reasoned, and I agreed, is definitely orgasms. Also, I packed you condoms—lots of them, all different sizes. Believe me when I say that having the different sizes comes in really handy. No pun intended.”

I sputtered for a few seconds then managed to finally say, “You’re off your rocker, and Janie is nuts. You’re both cracked nuts.”

“I would have brought a life-sized cut-out of Charlie Hunnam, but this one,” Sandra indicated to Elizabeth with her head, “thought it would be awkward.”

I interjected, “Wack-a-doodle-doo!”

Just then, a rooster crowed in the yard, as though to echo my insult. We ignored it.

Elizabeth crossed her arms in a defensive stance. “It would be awkward. And, technically, it was larger than the allowable size for checked bags and carry-on luggage.”

“I think they must make special accommodations for life-sized cut-outs. I mean, how else would you be able to cart them across the country? How do you think Darth Vader makes it to all those kids’ birthday parties?”

“They’re mailed…via the post office.” Elizabeth’s tone was droll and her expression flat. It was obvious that they’d argued this point prior to leaving Chicago.

“We didn’t have time for the post office before we left.”

“Please don’t tell me you had a life-sized cut-out of Charlie Hunnam made.” I already knew the answer.

“Okay. I won’t tell you that we had a life-sized cut-out of Charlie Hunnam made. I also won’t tell you that he is shirtless and currently waiting for you in your apartment. Thanks for giving me those spare keys, and you’re welcome.”

 

Penny Reid, you slay me.  I laughed so hard here.   So I didn’t really connect with Drew here.  Cuz  ..   duh  Charlie Hunnam. I was caught up in the family and her friends. But I got stuck earlier … on Charlie Hunnam.  Since I’ve actually met him, Charlie is more real to me.  #SorryNotSorry   

 

And so Penny Reid has totally ensnared me with her knitting group of friends, the guys, the families, and now,  even Charlie Hunnam.  She has it all.  

 

 

 


 

Series Catch Up: Knitting in the City series by Penny ReidNinja at First Sight by Penny Reid
Series: Knitting in the City #4.75
Published by Caped Publishing on November 21, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 194
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
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three-flames
One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

What do a cynical former Marine and a sheltered former Olympic contender have in common?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

He has a girlfriend and she’s never been kissed.

He’s sullenly sarcastic and she’s earnestly empathetic.

He can’t stop thinking about her.

She knows she should keep her distance.

Nevertheless, when opposites attract the results may be unexpected, but they’re also undeniably magnetic.

 

Icon Free Read

(this was free on Amazon on January 21, 2016, and is still free January 29th)

This was a quick read, longer than a novella and shorter than her regular books in the series. It felt all over the place – still funny, still interesting, still odd enough to be real but more odd than others. It’s Greg and Fiona.  Greg is out there – WAY out there and Fiona is more logical than even I could imagine.  She controls her emotions too well.

It felt unfinished and so I can’t wait to read more in Happily Ever Ninja.   

 

 

 

About Penny Reid

SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US.

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.

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Posted February 6, 2016 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Book Review / 2 Comments


2 responses to “Series Catch Up: Knitting in the City series by Penny Reid

  1. Patti (@TheLoveJunkee)

    I love this series! If you get the chance, listen to Beauty and the Mustache on audio. It slayed me. For some reason, it took a little getting used to the narrator’s voice, but once I did, I was sold. Probably one of my all-time favorite audiobooks.