Ummm... this book was alright I suppose. It wasn't terrible but I found the supporting characters to be really annoying, in particular, Shanna. I don't know whether this coloured my perception of the rest of the book but when it was done, I was just glad it was over. I wasn't left with a nice feeling that I get after reading an amazing book. I suppose it is a matter of taste but this book wasn't in accord with mine. The story revolves around playboy Jay and the chef with the knee injury Nikki. She is looking for a job in her field that will accommodate her bad knee. When Jay called her for a job as his personal chef, she made the trip to his house for her interview. He immediately dismissed her because he is taking a break from women. When his clingy childhood friend Shanna dropped by, he reels her in his scheme of get rid of Shanna by getting her to pose as his girlfriend. Then there is the side arc of her posing as a lesbian to add an obstacle to an imminent hook-up. Anyways, they hook up. She plays it cool because she knows he has some trigger up his ass about commitments. He is confused because her reactions was exactly what he was looking for, a non-clingy one. Despite this, he is disgruntled because he does want validation that she wants him. He realizes he loves her but she avoids developing feelings for him since she doesn't want to be just another woman obsessed with him. I was fine with this plot but there were so many annoying things in the book. There were too many side-romances that I really couldn't care less about. Jay's cousin has a romance that mirrored Nikki's abusive teenage relationship. She seriously didn't serve any purpose to their story other than making Nikki have flashbacks. She practically disappeared at the end. Then there is Shanna and her gardener. I suppose I should feel sorry for Shanna. She is growing old. She hasn't accomplished anything. She is latching on to men to give her some worth. She is a lost woman. Well, I didn't. She was so shallow and I perceived her the same way she perceived herself. I didn't really respect her. Who the hell doesn't know how to paint? and attempting to kill yourself after your one time hookup didn't show to a party? Get over it already. Another thing that didn't mesh is Cassandra. I suppose I should feel that she is cute and just all sorts of quirky. Nope. I found her annoying and pushy. Who the hell volunteers another person for a spot in the committee against their wishes? Nope, not cute, annoying as hell is more like it. I suppose she will end up with Gabe in another book. Also, I get the feeling that Jay pitied her too much. His sentiments came off across as more like pity that Nikki has such a sad life and I want to be there for her to be her manly man. Somewhere, someone will read this book and have everything click together. The book isn't inherently bad. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I read this for a new crafting related reading group I am considering. The heroine of the book is a strong, if stubborn character who shies away from others. The hero is a playboy who's sworn off women. Clearly falling in the romance formula, they get together in quiet explosive ways. Ms. Ridgway is a very descriptive author. Her scenes place your fantasy within them so you can visually sense everything going on. I had the feeling that she knows knitting but just barely, like she has been knitting for a very short time. I do recommend the book for romance readers or crafters, but with a warning. There is a scene near the end that the characters backpedal from the direction they have headed, like they have to go back to who they were at the beginning rather than growing. It threw me off the book temporarily.
Do You like book How To Knit A Wild Bikini (2008)?
Knitting and romance where can you go wrong. Lots of humor.
—Kenjii
Quick, fun read. Just what I was looking for!
—dionysian11
