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Granby Knitting #1
The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters
This title is part of the 2011 Advent Calendar: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Rance Crawford is an alpaca rancher, fiber mill owner, and self-proclaimed grumpy bastard. When sweet, charming tenderfoot Ben McCutcheon moves onto Crawford’s rural road, Rance is very aware that Ben makes it a grand total of two gay men in their tiny town, and even though he is instantly, painfully smitten, any move he makes could be simply chalked up to being hard up.
Using his best weapon and favorite skill, Crawford launches an awkward, wordless effort to make sure Ben is kept warm during the cold Colorado winter, every last piece of him—especially his heart.
Rance Crawford is an alpaca rancher, fiber mill owner, and self-proclaimed grumpy bastard. When sweet, charming tenderfoot Ben McCutcheon moves onto Crawford’s rural road, Rance is very aware that Ben makes it a grand total of two gay men in their tiny town, and even though he is instantly, painfully smitten, any move he makes could be simply chalked up to being hard up.
Using his best weapon and favorite skill, Crawford launches an awkward, wordless effort to make sure Ben is kept warm during the cold Colorado winter, every last piece of him—especially his heart.
98 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2011
About the author
Amy Lane
209 books3,440 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 404 reviews
September 11, 2016
Updating my review to say that, because of this series, I now knit! I just made a hat and am ridiculously proud of myself.
This whole series is awesome. I love every one of the books. They're great comfort reads - like a warm pair of mittens for your heart. Okay, back to knitting.
This whole series is awesome. I love every one of the books. They're great comfort reads - like a warm pair of mittens for your heart. Okay, back to knitting.
February 23, 2019
3.5 Stars
You can’t really go wrong with a gruff grumpy not-so-gentle giant who raises animals to supply his custom yarn shop. He’s kinda definitely lonely, and when he gets a new neighbor who’s all sorts of sunshine and optimism, how’s a reticent blunt guy like him, going to win him over?
Ensue a slow burn and sweet wooing with knitting goods.
This was easy reading at its best despite Lane’s eccentric word choice and at times, awkward flow.
Endearing, funny, with a touch of angst and a dollop of sexy!
I look forward to reading the rest of this series!
You can’t really go wrong with a gruff grumpy not-so-gentle giant who raises animals to supply his custom yarn shop. He’s kinda definitely lonely, and when he gets a new neighbor who’s all sorts of sunshine and optimism, how’s a reticent blunt guy like him, going to win him over?
Ensue a slow burn and sweet wooing with knitting goods.
This was easy reading at its best despite Lane’s eccentric word choice and at times, awkward flow.
Endearing, funny, with a touch of angst and a dollop of sexy!
I look forward to reading the rest of this series!
April 28, 2014
The way to a man's heart is through his cock...
cozy.
When 20-something-year-old Ben, with the light-up-the-room smile, inherits his aunt's property in Granby, Colorado, Rance Crawford, a man of few words and even fewer woo-them tactics, can't believe his luck. There's finally another gay man in town!
Ben has Craw at hello. The rest is a courtship, and knitting.
I can't even sew on a button, but halfway through this book I wanted to grab some Alpaca wool and knit a hat or two. Low on steam, but high on feel-goods and fluffy critters.
Warning: Total sweetness wrapped in a wool mitten; Christmas not required to enjoy; may cause sudden urge to cuddle a bunny.
cozy.
When 20-something-year-old Ben, with the light-up-the-room smile, inherits his aunt's property in Granby, Colorado, Rance Crawford, a man of few words and even fewer woo-them tactics, can't believe his luck. There's finally another gay man in town!
Ben has Craw at hello. The rest is a courtship, and knitting.
I can't even sew on a button, but halfway through this book I wanted to grab some Alpaca wool and knit a hat or two. Low on steam, but high on feel-goods and fluffy critters.
Warning: Total sweetness wrapped in a wool mitten; Christmas not required to enjoy; may cause sudden urge to cuddle a bunny.
January 5, 2016
Written November 11, 2014
3 1/2 Stars - A cozy winter tale
A new short Winter M/M. I listened to the 2:30 hrs audiobook edition narrated by Philip Alces.
Sweet as sugar and so charming!
There is absolutely nothing not to like about this Christmas novella. Well written, fun and excellent told by a skilled storyteller (Ms Lane) and a perfect narrator voice (Mr Alces).
***********************************************************
The alpaca rancher and fiber mill owner Rance Crawford is a self-proclaimed grumpy bastard. When the young charming Ben McCutcheon becomes his new neighboor is Rance very aware that Ben makes it a grand total of two gay men in their tiny Colorado town.
Rance mission is now to make sure that Ben is kept warm during the cold winter, every last piece of him - especially his heart.
***********************************************************
Read and feel that cuddling soft feeling and just yearn for a white winter and a warm home knitted hat.
I LIKE - irresistibly cute
3 1/2 Stars - A cozy winter tale
A new short Winter M/M. I listened to the 2:30 hrs audiobook edition narrated by Philip Alces.
Sweet as sugar and so charming!
There is absolutely nothing not to like about this Christmas novella. Well written, fun and excellent told by a skilled storyteller (Ms Lane) and a perfect narrator voice (Mr Alces).
***********************************************************
The alpaca rancher and fiber mill owner Rance Crawford is a self-proclaimed grumpy bastard. When the young charming Ben McCutcheon becomes his new neighboor is Rance very aware that Ben makes it a grand total of two gay men in their tiny Colorado town.
Rance mission is now to make sure that Ben is kept warm during the cold winter, every last piece of him - especially his heart.
***********************************************************
Read and feel that cuddling soft feeling and just yearn for a white winter and a warm home knitted hat.
I LIKE - irresistibly cute
March 9, 2020
This was a super-short read by Amy Lane. Nothing really happens in this story but then I went in with no expectations because of the story length. I defy anyone not to fall in love with this story about a man who woos with wool. He knits his way into Ben's heart. Rance is everything a romantic hero should be and Ben is everything that was sweet and simple and open-hearted enough to see the truth of Rance.
December 3, 2017
Rance is a crotchety alpaca fur yarn maker dyer knitter. Whew lol. The only gay man in his small town, he becomes intrigued by his new neighbor Ben. Ben has just moved into his great-aunt’s house from California. Rance decides Ben needs help to make it through the winter but he also begins his courtship through knitting. And some very interesting knitting indeed 😉
This was super cute and funny. It’s a sweet and short read. I think it could have benefited from some things fleshed out a bit more but still very enjoyable. I would recommend it in between heavier reads or if you just need something quick.
PS You can learn how to make a cock cozy at the end 😂
This was super cute and funny. It’s a sweet and short read. I think it could have benefited from some things fleshed out a bit more but still very enjoyable. I would recommend it in between heavier reads or if you just need something quick.
PS You can learn how to make a cock cozy at the end 😂
April 20, 2017
Amy Lane working her angst-free skills in an adorable novella about knitting men? What's not to love??
This really is a book about courting, which I adored. I am a sucker for a good build-up to physical intimacy and I got that here, which is rare in a novella.
Rance sets about courting his new neighbor, Ben, by gifting him little wooly handmade trinkets. I have a weakness for big oafy men in M/M that have trouble expressing their emotions but are secretly fluff-balls inside (sub-genre much??), and Rance fit that description to a T. He was very adorable and I liked his instant chemistry with Ben.
I think I would have liked to get to know Ben a little more, but it is hard with single POVs to get the full scope of the other character. I also could have done without Rance calling his man-bits his "pee pee" <--- things a grown man should never say! However, I'm being very nitpicky. This novella was super sweet and super fun. Can't wait to move on to the next!
*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This really is a book about courting, which I adored. I am a sucker for a good build-up to physical intimacy and I got that here, which is rare in a novella.
Rance sets about courting his new neighbor, Ben, by gifting him little wooly handmade trinkets. I have a weakness for big oafy men in M/M that have trouble expressing their emotions but are secretly fluff-balls inside (sub-genre much??), and Rance fit that description to a T. He was very adorable and I liked his instant chemistry with Ben.
I think I would have liked to get to know Ben a little more, but it is hard with single POVs to get the full scope of the other character. I also could have done without Rance calling his man-bits his "pee pee" <--- things a grown man should never say! However, I'm being very nitpicky. This novella was super sweet and super fun. Can't wait to move on to the next!
*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
November 26, 2017
*4,5 stars*
Absolutely loved it.
Not only is gruff and grumpy Crawford adorable in his 'simplicity', Amy Lane's use of wool producing prodecures and knitting as metaphors for falling in love is totally brilliant and very clever. (and that knitting pattern at the end made my day ... )
Excellent for a short novella and so far the best this Christmas!
Absolutely loved it.
Not only is gruff and grumpy Crawford adorable in his 'simplicity', Amy Lane's use of wool producing prodecures and knitting as metaphors for falling in love is totally brilliant and very clever. (and that knitting pattern at the end made my day ... )
Excellent for a short novella and so far the best this Christmas!
August 30, 2024
3,5 stars
I've read this a few days ago but don't remember much, beside it not being bad, rather entertaining, and full of knitting (not to be mistaken with knotting, take your minds out of the gutter, this is not omegaverse, lol).
There's yarn making, some strange knitting-Alpaca-world euphemisms for sex that I didn't really get and two likeable MCs and their slow way to becoming a couple. No drama, no angst, no miscommunication.
I bought the whole series-bundle but won't continue immediately with the next installment.
I've read this a few days ago but don't remember much, beside it not being bad, rather entertaining, and full of knitting (not to be mistaken with knotting, take your minds out of the gutter, this is not omegaverse, lol).
There's yarn making, some strange knitting-Alpaca-world euphemisms for sex that I didn't really get and two likeable MCs and their slow way to becoming a couple. No drama, no angst, no miscommunication.
I bought the whole series-bundle but won't continue immediately with the next installment.
February 17, 2019
3 Stars
This was a cute start to a winter-y M/M series revolving around a group of men who work, knit, and find love in the small town of Granby, Colorado.
The burgeoning romance between Rance Crawford, the alpaca rancher, fiber mill owner, and dedicated knitter, and his charming new neighbour, Ben McCutcheon, was very sweet and endearing. Watching grumpy bastard Rance as he began to woe Ben with his knitted goods was delightful to witness.
The two made a lovely pair, but because of the limited page time I feel like I wasn’t as engaged as I maybe could have been. The story flow was a little choppy and awkward at times, too, but this isn’t a new experience for me when it comes to reading some of Lane’s older works.
What I was most charmed by, though, were the secondary characters. Being an older series, it’s reassuring to know that the side characters I liked so much here have already received their own stories – stories that I will gladly devour in due time.
This was a cute start to a winter-y M/M series revolving around a group of men who work, knit, and find love in the small town of Granby, Colorado.
The burgeoning romance between Rance Crawford, the alpaca rancher, fiber mill owner, and dedicated knitter, and his charming new neighbour, Ben McCutcheon, was very sweet and endearing. Watching grumpy bastard Rance as he began to woe Ben with his knitted goods was delightful to witness.
The two made a lovely pair, but because of the limited page time I feel like I wasn’t as engaged as I maybe could have been. The story flow was a little choppy and awkward at times, too, but this isn’t a new experience for me when it comes to reading some of Lane’s older works.
What I was most charmed by, though, were the secondary characters. Being an older series, it’s reassuring to know that the side characters I liked so much here have already received their own stories – stories that I will gladly devour in due time.
January 1, 2012
Starts at 1% and ends at 93%
Ok story I liked both the main characters and although there was a lot of knitting and yarn talk none of it bored me or anything.
Probably would have gave it five stars but I didn’t like Stanly and he was in too much of the book either in the scenes or Rance thinking about him. This is also just probably me but the barn /animal references were just too much (too many of them used) for me and some were a little gross. But that’s probably all just me. And I only say that so you know why I gave 4 and not 5 stars.
And as much as I did enjoy this story, I don’t understand why it is in a Christmas anthology since it ends before thanksgiving but since it is one of the best (maybe even the best) stories released in the anthology I won’t complain about that other than this one run on sentence.
If you were going to read one book from the anthology I would 100% recommend you read this one, it is cute and even though we didn’t really get to know a lot about Ben or see him that much he was likeable
Ok story I liked both the main characters and although there was a lot of knitting and yarn talk none of it bored me or anything.
Probably would have gave it five stars but I didn’t like Stanly and he was in too much of the book either in the scenes or Rance thinking about him. This is also just probably me but the barn /animal references were just too much (too many of them used) for me and some were a little gross. But that’s probably all just me. And I only say that so you know why I gave 4 and not 5 stars.
And as much as I did enjoy this story, I don’t understand why it is in a Christmas anthology since it ends before thanksgiving but since it is one of the best (maybe even the best) stories released in the anthology I won’t complain about that other than this one run on sentence.
If you were going to read one book from the anthology I would 100% recommend you read this one, it is cute and even though we didn’t really get to know a lot about Ben or see him that much he was likeable
December 25, 2020
The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters by Amy Lane
Granby Knitting series book 1. A holiday M-M novella with a primary focus on kitting yarns and that special love connection.
A grumpy hero that wants to woo a lover with a special knitted project. He will create the perfect wool, the exact color combination and project to match his heart longings.
Charming, a bit of humor and a bit of sexy openness.
Granby Knitting series book 1. A holiday M-M novella with a primary focus on kitting yarns and that special love connection.
A grumpy hero that wants to woo a lover with a special knitted project. He will create the perfect wool, the exact color combination and project to match his heart longings.
Charming, a bit of humor and a bit of sexy openness.
December 10, 2011
“Simple is good,” he said. “I’ve lived through complicated. Complicated hurts. Simple sustains you. Complicated makes you hungry for simple.”
Rance Crawford is a simple man that has a simple life. His alpaca ranch and yarn spinning business is successful. He has a couple of good friends. Good employees. And a buddy he visits every few months to take the edge off when he needs it. He is also a crusty, blunt and hard-to-get-along-with man.
Ben McCutcheon moves into his dead great-aunt’s one acre farm next door to Rance. A self proclaimed “Bug Man”, he cleans up computer code for game companies. His life has been more complicated. His heart broken. So a move to the small town of Granby, Colorado may just be the best thing for him. One look at the wide open sky, open and honest all around him, and Ben is hooked.
And then he meets Rance, with his sharp edges and blunt ways and his alpacas and his knitting and his magical, beautiful yarn factory. And Rance looks at Ben and sees a younger guy who stirs things up in him about making a life together, things he hasn’t thought about before, things that make him want, and make him open and get him to thinking.
With a simple knitted hat, Rance begins his courtship dance. Stitch by stitch, slowly, surely, weaving Ben into his fabric and making Ben’s beautiful green eyes part of the color palate of his life and heart and wants and needs. “Do you have any idea how high your heart can soar in a place like this?” And with a man like this?
Amy Lane has taken the fabrics of these two men, the rough wooly whites and blacks and reds of Rance, and the softer beautiful golds and greens and browns of Ben and spins them into a lovingly crafted, exquisitely made mating dance between two very different men with gentle souls. I was right there with them – circling each other, shy signals given and received, and small tokens of affection and, dare it be, love offered.
And the prose. The beauty is in how very very simple and elegant Ms. Lane's thoughts and descriptions are. She offers such truths in such a loving way. Because, like Rance, she doesn’t knit for just anyone. "'Only folks I love,” (s)he said, trading naked heart for naked heart." And she loves us.
I always walk away from a book by Amy Lane feeling cared for, loved, and treasured. This gem of a story could not have come at a better time – treat yourself to a small gift this holiday season. Or anytime. A story from Amy Lane is a balm for the soul.
Tom (reviewed for the PRG - Paranormal Romance Guild)
Rance Crawford is a simple man that has a simple life. His alpaca ranch and yarn spinning business is successful. He has a couple of good friends. Good employees. And a buddy he visits every few months to take the edge off when he needs it. He is also a crusty, blunt and hard-to-get-along-with man.
Ben McCutcheon moves into his dead great-aunt’s one acre farm next door to Rance. A self proclaimed “Bug Man”, he cleans up computer code for game companies. His life has been more complicated. His heart broken. So a move to the small town of Granby, Colorado may just be the best thing for him. One look at the wide open sky, open and honest all around him, and Ben is hooked.
And then he meets Rance, with his sharp edges and blunt ways and his alpacas and his knitting and his magical, beautiful yarn factory. And Rance looks at Ben and sees a younger guy who stirs things up in him about making a life together, things he hasn’t thought about before, things that make him want, and make him open and get him to thinking.
With a simple knitted hat, Rance begins his courtship dance. Stitch by stitch, slowly, surely, weaving Ben into his fabric and making Ben’s beautiful green eyes part of the color palate of his life and heart and wants and needs. “Do you have any idea how high your heart can soar in a place like this?” And with a man like this?
Amy Lane has taken the fabrics of these two men, the rough wooly whites and blacks and reds of Rance, and the softer beautiful golds and greens and browns of Ben and spins them into a lovingly crafted, exquisitely made mating dance between two very different men with gentle souls. I was right there with them – circling each other, shy signals given and received, and small tokens of affection and, dare it be, love offered.
And the prose. The beauty is in how very very simple and elegant Ms. Lane's thoughts and descriptions are. She offers such truths in such a loving way. Because, like Rance, she doesn’t knit for just anyone. "'Only folks I love,” (s)he said, trading naked heart for naked heart." And she loves us.
I always walk away from a book by Amy Lane feeling cared for, loved, and treasured. This gem of a story could not have come at a better time – treat yourself to a small gift this holiday season. Or anytime. A story from Amy Lane is a balm for the soul.
Tom (reviewed for the PRG - Paranormal Romance Guild)
August 19, 2019
Super cute story, my favorite kind of Amy Lane :) and almost makes me long for winter.
This is my first experience with narrator Philip Alces and his voice is just ideal for these characters.
This is my first experience with narrator Philip Alces and his voice is just ideal for these characters.
December 6, 2019
3.5 Stars!! 💕 Loved this cute romance between a stoic, workaholic alpaca rancher and his techie, new neighbor. Rance Crawford is your typical grumpy "bear", but he is unapologetic about his love for his alpacas, his passion for the yarn he creates and knitting❤️ But when the sweet-natured, geeky Ben McCutcheon moves next door to him, he is immediately smitten💘. So he does what he does best to win him over.... he knits.. 😍💕.
This is a slow-burn romance with lots of adorable and awkward thrown in with the sweet and steamy. It was a little heavy on the yarn-mill-fabric-design-knitting-talk for my simple brain... but it still ended up being quite enjoyable.. a perfect little early holiday romance🎅🏼🎄 Highly recommended to all fans of M/M holiday romances who love a little quirky in their stories.. 😍👍
This is a slow-burn romance with lots of adorable and awkward thrown in with the sweet and steamy. It was a little heavy on the yarn-mill-fabric-design-knitting-talk for my simple brain... but it still ended up being quite enjoyable.. a perfect little early holiday romance🎅🏼🎄 Highly recommended to all fans of M/M holiday romances who love a little quirky in their stories.. 😍👍
April 20, 2017
I wanted to give this one 4stars but I had to take one away because
I LOVE the title and cover of this book. So freaking cute and the knitting pattern at the end? OMG. Hilarious. I really enjoyed this one. It was adorable. I loved Crawford and Ben.
I LOVE the title and cover of this book. So freaking cute and the knitting pattern at the end? OMG. Hilarious. I really enjoyed this one. It was adorable. I loved Crawford and Ben.
December 1, 2017
***** This is a simply wonderful short story !
It is touching, adorable and fun !
The comparison between yarn making and people wooing is awesome !
Rance, 30s, Ben, 20s.
And, there is a knitting instruction for a cock cozy and more.
Highly recommended ! ENJOY !
===================
It is touching, adorable and fun !
The comparison between yarn making and people wooing is awesome !
Rance, 30s, Ben, 20s.
And, there is a knitting instruction for a cock cozy and more.
Highly recommended ! ENJOY !
===================
May 21, 2017
Rance Crawford is an alpaca and sheep rancher, owns a fiber mill, does most of his own spinning along with his best friend (the appropriated named) Ariadne, and has the social skills of an amoeba. I loved this character so much it's not even funny.
When charming and socially adept Ben McCutcheon inherits his great-aunt's property next door, Rance is suddenly floored by this vibrant and beautiful man. So much so that he immediately moves out of his comfort zone to woo Ben. With his knitting.
I'll tell you this book made me want to learn how to knit. Even though it hasn't got a lot of steam at first, the UST is there, and the steams builds until it finally explodes. Deliciously so. Full of feel good moments and low on angst I absolutely LOVED this story.
More than that though, I ADORED the narration by Philip Alces. I've never listened to him before, but WOW was I impressed. I loved everything from start to finish and wouldn't change a thing.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Copy generously provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
August 22, 2019
3.5 stars
This was exactly what I needed! Such a warm and fluffy read.
I absolutely loved Crawford. He was gruff and came across as the silent type, who didn’t really wanted to interact with anyone.
But what people didn’t see is that Crawford just doesn’t know how to talk to people. He would love to make friends all over town, he just has no idea how.
But when he meets his new neighbor Ben, he is instantly smitten. But how to make Ben know Crawford likes him….?
By knitting stuff for him of course! It was just adorable how Crawford kept knitting things for Ben, so Ben wouldn’t be cold.
This was just such an adorable story. And with the knitting and the cold weather there, this was the perfect autumn/winter read.
Now bring on the rest of the series.
This was exactly what I needed! Such a warm and fluffy read.
I absolutely loved Crawford. He was gruff and came across as the silent type, who didn’t really wanted to interact with anyone.
But what people didn’t see is that Crawford just doesn’t know how to talk to people. He would love to make friends all over town, he just has no idea how.
But when he meets his new neighbor Ben, he is instantly smitten. But how to make Ben know Crawford likes him….?
By knitting stuff for him of course! It was just adorable how Crawford kept knitting things for Ben, so Ben wouldn’t be cold.
This was just such an adorable story. And with the knitting and the cold weather there, this was the perfect autumn/winter read.
Now bring on the rest of the series.
April 20, 2017
So perfect for the holiday season. The message of the story "just because you put a mating pair in a pen doesn't mean one of them's going ass-up for the other one‟.
This was a delightful story about really great people in a little hard to get town close to Boulder, knitting, lots of animal stories and analogies and two unlikely a pair falling in love (and eventually end up ass-up!
This was a delightful story about really great people in a little hard to get town close to Boulder, knitting, lots of animal stories and analogies and two unlikely a pair falling in love (and eventually end up ass-up!
December 4, 2011
I had problems to get into the story - everything related to yarn and knitting is completely alien to me - but it was easy to fall in love with the characters.A sweet and funny Christmas-season story.
January 16, 2017
Overall book rating: 4
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 2
Well, I enjoyed it. I liked the whole socially inadequate thing going on with Crawford, I think it gave a little kick to the story and Ben, was just sweet.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 2
Well, I enjoyed it. I liked the whole socially inadequate thing going on with Crawford, I think it gave a little kick to the story and Ben, was just sweet.
August 24, 2016
♥ Dani. You know me so well and knew I would love this and I did, you are my kind of critter girl! Such a warm and fuzzy story full of critters and pee-pee hard on dances :) Read.
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.
April 3, 2012
This was just plain sweet. Crawford is a unique character, blunt, inarticulate, mostly oblivious, and secretly romantic, with a streak of integrity a mile wide. The story is his, and you just go along for the ride. You will find yourself reading with an indulgent smile on your face and a deep desire to hug the man. Or shake him. Sometimes both. Funny, quirky and adorable.
December 15, 2017
Gruff and tough meets the guy to melt those protective layers away. Fun and quirky. My take home from this book was exceptional and can be summed up in two words: COCK COZY.
June 10, 2020
Truthfully...I picked up this book because 1. I loved the cover (bad reason to choose a book I know...but... and 2. I needed the story setting for...yes...another challenge. (sigh) Actually I became engrossed in the story and Rance's efforts...that most of the time went completely over Ben's head. I know little and care nothing at all about yarn or knitting even though I come from along line of knitters. Now the animals were a different story...give me animals that are cared for and loved in any story...any day. I loved the characters. The grumpy Rance Crawford who hoped to win Ben's heart by knitting him countless warm gifts. Ben who was just a "fish out of water."..but lovable and sometimes clueless. I also liked how Rance said what he meant and made no apologies for who he was. It was a nice to see that they became friends before they became lovers.
September 5, 2023
Adorable! One wouldn't think there was a wool cozy for every...appendage
April 20, 2017
This was a very sweet and cute story. I loved all the knitting stuff, and the wooing with knitted garments. It was adorable. There wasn't much of a plot, just the romance, but that was okay. I didn't find it dragging at all.
The one thing that did irritate me is that there is a significant age difference and there is absolutly no reason for it. The older guy is in his late thirties which is perfect. The other guy is in his mid-twenties, which is completely unnecessary. The story would have worked fine if he'd been even 30. The age difference isn't even acknowledged in the book. At least the younger guy wasn't still in his teens.
I just hate the romanticizing of relationships with significant age differences in this genre. Yes, those relationships can work and be healthy, but I've seen so many that aren't healthy at all, where the people aren't equal, the older person is clearly in control, the younger person doesn't have time to enjoy being young or the older person acts younger than their age. I think for a relationship to be successful, you need to be in the same place in life. Yes, that can happen when you're fifteen years apart but I think it's rare.
Okay, off my soapbox/milk crate. If you know nothing about yarn and how it's made or knitting, you'll learn a lot and as far as I know from my moderate experience it was accurate. I hadn't heard of sweeps before but it's a very cool concept.
My other problem with the book is that everything made, all the yarn and knitwear, is some combination of seafoam or turquoise and rust. Ick. The hat is described as having a little bit of rust at the crown and the "roll-up brim" as also being rust, the rest seafoam. Not only does that sounds godawful ugly, but it sounds really girly.
He was a very fast knitter. He whipped up the hat in seed stitch in one evening. I can make a hat in a couple of hours in stockinette, but as the guy says, decreasing in seed stitch is a bitch, plus the stitch itself is very time-consuming as you have to keep flipping the yarn back and forth between stitches. He must be incredibly fast to knit something like that so quickly. It's believable, I do know people who could do it, I'm just impressed.
The ending was rushed.
3.5 stars rounded up to four because of all the really cool knitting knowledge.
update 1/17/15
I'm rounding back down to three because my memories of the book are kind of negative.
The one thing that did irritate me is that there is a significant age difference and there is absolutly no reason for it. The older guy is in his late thirties which is perfect. The other guy is in his mid-twenties, which is completely unnecessary. The story would have worked fine if he'd been even 30. The age difference isn't even acknowledged in the book. At least the younger guy wasn't still in his teens.
I just hate the romanticizing of relationships with significant age differences in this genre. Yes, those relationships can work and be healthy, but I've seen so many that aren't healthy at all, where the people aren't equal, the older person is clearly in control, the younger person doesn't have time to enjoy being young or the older person acts younger than their age. I think for a relationship to be successful, you need to be in the same place in life. Yes, that can happen when you're fifteen years apart but I think it's rare.
Okay, off my soapbox/milk crate. If you know nothing about yarn and how it's made or knitting, you'll learn a lot and as far as I know from my moderate experience it was accurate. I hadn't heard of sweeps before but it's a very cool concept.
My other problem with the book is that everything made, all the yarn and knitwear, is some combination of seafoam or turquoise and rust. Ick. The hat is described as having a little bit of rust at the crown and the "roll-up brim" as also being rust, the rest seafoam. Not only does that sounds godawful ugly, but it sounds really girly.
He was a very fast knitter. He whipped up the hat in seed stitch in one evening. I can make a hat in a couple of hours in stockinette, but as the guy says, decreasing in seed stitch is a bitch, plus the stitch itself is very time-consuming as you have to keep flipping the yarn back and forth between stitches. He must be incredibly fast to knit something like that so quickly. It's believable, I do know people who could do it, I'm just impressed.
The ending was rushed.
3.5 stars rounded up to four because of all the really cool knitting knowledge.
update 1/17/15
I'm rounding back down to three because my memories of the book are kind of negative.
August 7, 2021
Rance Crawford, the orneriest cuss in Granby falls hard for city-slicker Ben McCutcheon. This short novella is from Rance’s POV and tells how the (hysterically funny) grumpy bastard win Ben’s heart by knitting him a hat, scarf, mittens and a Very Special Accessory. Loved it!
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
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