The Blurb:

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.

The Stats:

The Review:

?????? Stars

Oh, Amy Lane, I love you bunches and I think I’ll follow you and your stories anywhere. Most times it’s a win, sometimes not. I’m still a devoted fan, though.

This book made me sigh.

And not in the best way, more like a resigned okay way.

I umm…I don’t knit.

I think that part was too big for those of us who know nothing about yarns, and purling, and other fibrous stuff-n-stuff.

This felt like a bit of a jumble of tossing spaghetti against a wall to see what would stick from the grumpy knitter, to the hot new neighbor, to the quirky mill employees, and that guy at the yarn shop, and, and, and. It was kind of all over the place and a bit disjointed.

It was kind of slow-burn that seemed to simmer way too long, like the green beans my grandmother used to boil all day until they only tasted of ham hock. Which, they’re awesome and all, but there are no nutrients left to fortify and sustain.

Rance (Craw) Crawford is Mr. Grumpypants. I think I needed him to be a little more forthcoming about why he was so broody and closed off. He’s obviously smitten with the hot young neighbor and has no issue knitting him all kinds of gifts as well as helping him prepare for harsh winter survival. All this just seemed to go on way too long for such a short book.

I liked neighbor Ben well enough—but greedily wanted to know more about him. I think I would have connected stronger to his character had we gotten more from his point of view.

So, I’m torn, kind of. I mean…it’s !AMY LANE!, so I can’t stay away. I think I’ll be reading the next books…I’m pretty sure I will. Probably by tomorrow or the weekend.

This review also posted on GoodReads and Amazon.