I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read many books written in present-tense, or that are written in a UK English dialect, but this one didn't disappoint. There were a few technical errors, but it's actually possible that they only seem wrong to me because the writing style is different?

I noticed lots of reviewers complaining about McNeil's language use. I didn't feel like it was excessive--the F-bomb was dropped a small handful of times. She did use the phrase "piss-off" quite a few times, and to her kids "bloody" was a bad word-and it was used several times a chapter at least, so I don't know if some of the reviewers are from the UK and that's why they were offended.

This story was exactly the kind that appeals to me-I felt I could relate to the main character--even if our circumstances are different it seemed like our personalities were very similar. And nothing extraordinary really happened in the book. There were no over the top romances, or thrilling mysteries to solve. It was just a glimpse into this fictitious woman's life.

On a side note, I am even more interested in learning to knit after having read about all the cute things everyone was making. ( )

Around this time of year, especially before the last two lovely spring days, when the snow is grey and gritty and so are the skies, I often find myself enjoying a few "not-so-trashy trashy novels." These would generally fall into the categories of romance, women's fiction, domestic fiction or "chick lit." I'm pretty choosy about these and have a few authors whose work I look for, such as Erica James and Katie Fforde. Gil McNeil has joined the few with her first two books. Although I don't knit, I have friends and family who do, and I enjoy McNeil's descriptions of the colorful yarns her character chooses for her store in a small British seaside town. Even more, I like the humor, especially when she is writing about the heroine's two small boys and the neighbor's dog. The other characters are fun too. This is a nice undemanding read for the tired businesswoman or mother. I doubt any men will like it. ( )

I really enjoyed this story and couldn't put it down. ( )

Jo Mackenzie, in this second novel, is an English widow with two young boys and a small but affably helpful (mostly) circle of friends and her 80-year-old grandmother. Jo runs a yarn shop, volunteers at her boys' school on various projects, is a paid knitting coach for Britain's #1 diva movie star, and somehow finds herself stumbling into a romance of sorts with a shy carpenter friend, while trying to grapple with the aftermath (emotional and biological) of a one-night fling with a famous photographer. This is a story about starting over, with knitting as a backdrop. It's a very civilized, charming story that knows to emphasize what is important in life, with quietly witty dialogue and chock-full of those English turns of phrase that I love. Especially satisfying are those rare moments when Jo's dander arises and she gets up the nerve to ever so gracefully and unmistakably tell off those few disagreeable sorts that roam the outer boundaries of her small circle. I hope the author will continue these books; I so want to see how life unfolds for Jo and her loved ones. And the books (three so far) are a quiet hoot. ( )

I have just finished this book and get to read and early review the next in the series, KNIT ONE PEARL TWO, and this book was even a better read then the first. Really you will enjoy these books even if you are a beginner(forever) knitter like I am. Jo and her family are fun and yet she goes into the trials and tribulations of any family unit trying to stay together in tough times. I would like to make more comment on the end of the book, it was so touching but would give too much of it away. Please read it and enjoy! ( )