Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Knit Tight by Annabeth Albert


It’s no secret that Portland, Oregon, has some of best restaurants, shops, and cafés in the country. But it’s the hard-working men who serve it all up that keep us coming back for more...

One of Portland’s hottest young baristas, Brady is famous for his java-topping flair, turning a regular cup of joe into a work of art. Every Wednesday—aka “Knit Night”—hordes of women and their needles descend on the coffeehouse, and Brady’s feeling the heat. Into the fray walks a tall, dark, and distractingly handsome stranger from New York. His name is Evren, and he’s the sexy nephew of Brady’s sweetest customer, the owner of the yarn shop down the street. He’s also got a killer smile, confident air, and masculine charm that’s tying Brady’s stomach in knots. The smitten barista can’t wait to see him at the next week’s gathering. But when he tries to ask Evren out, his plans unravel faster than an unfinished edge. If Brady hopes to warm up more than Evren’s coffee, he’ll have to find a way to untangle their feelings, get out of the friend zone, and form a close-knit bond that’s bound to last a lifetime…


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Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie☆☆☆☆
I am loving this series of short novels from Ms. Albert. Each time I am not sure if this will be my favourite – and it has to be said that Knit Tight is definitely in contention.

I love the blog chapter introductions – in fact, I realise that it is something which I enjoy and find a clever device on the part of the author. These blog entries which give us a clue as to the feelings of a very private blogger.

Hidden behind the brashness of the Knitting Group that meet in the coffee shop, we are given are delicious romance which is blooming in spite of the men's circumstances. Their acceptance of each other is slow and hard won, and all the more real because of it. For a short story, this gives a very full and rounded story. It deals with many difficult issues in a sympathetic and thoughtful manner.

I recommend it to you.


Angela☆☆☆☆☆
I didn’t realize how much I had missed Albert’s version of Portland until I found myself immersed in Brady and Evren’s budding romance. One of the things I enjoy about the Portland Heat series is the sweet and relatively uncomplicated romances. Yes, they had a bit of angst, but relationships are rarely smooth sailing. That said, I enjoyed the added dimensions that Albert infused in Knit Tight as both Brady and Evren met at a point in their respective lives when neither believed they had time for a relationship, yet it turned out to be exactly what they each needed.

Brady. Sweet, sweet Brady. At twenty-three, Brady’s life is full of worry. He’s worried that he won’t be able to be the guardian his young siblings need him to be. He’s worried that he won’t be able to provide the guidance his eighteen-year-old sister needs. He’s worried that his job won’t be enough to move them into a better apartment or house. He’s worried that his chosen career as a barista isn’t professional enough. He’s worried that he will never have more of a life than what he has now. He’s worried that the cute guy who’s joined Wednesday’s Knit Night group is a complication he wants, but can never have because as a single parent to his three minor siblings, he has far more baggage than anyone will ever want to take on. As for Evren, the cute guy who’s joined the Knit Night group, he has his own batch of worries as he has moved to Portland to help take care of his aunt while she’s dealing with health issues. But the biggest hurdle that Brady and Evren’s budding relationship faces is not the children, not ill relatives, and not a lack of free time, but rather Brady’s bisexuality. So despite the sting of being rejected as a potential boyfriend solely because of his sexuality, Brady strikes up a friendship with Evren because both men need a sympathetic ear into which to vent the difficulties of their days. As their friendship begins to become more, Brady finds himself in a precarious position of wondering just how much more he can expect from Evren and whether or not his hopes for a future together will be realized.

I really enjoyed the characters Albert created in Brady and Evren. Both men were focused on their family, recognizing that their home situations required 100% of their focus. And yet, there was a chemistry between them that couldn’t be denied. Now I’m not talking about a “gotta get you naked” chemistry, but rather that spark that draws two people together and demands that you be in one another’s lives, if even only as friends – THAT chemistry. This is why Brady wanted Evren’s friendship even after he realized that Evren’s past experiences with bisexual men meant that a romantic relationship was not an option. Of course, it was no surprise to me when their friendship started to become more, because the emotional support they provided one another made the next step almost inevitable. What did surprise me was that Evren was able to articulate that his change of heart was for Brady, that Brady had, in the course of being himself, shown Evren that he (Evren) would be enough for Brady, and that the instant family Brady offered was something Evren wanted without ever knowing he did. While the men eventually find their way to the happy ending series fans will expect, it is not a smooth journey and a tissue may be needed (I know I was a tad teary-eyed a time or two). I could be off-base and I could be recalling the past installments wrong, but I felt that the complications Brady and Evren dealt with separately and together gave them an even greater depth than previously seen, making my return to Portland even more enjoyable than I expected. Then again, I may have just missed the heck out of this series. Either way, Knit Tight was an excellent addition to the Portland Heat series and I really, really hope that Albert has more books planned.


Also Available in the Portland Heat Series

http://amzn.to/1z3Ur82
Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Served Hot Blog Tour.


http://amzn.to/18LgPYp
Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Baked Fresh Blog Tour.


http://amzn.to/1BREcwl
Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Delivered Fast Blog Tour.




Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter.  In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Connect with Annabeth

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
FB Fan Group  ~  Google+  ~  Tumblr  ~  tsū


https://www.netgalley.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Knit Tight (Portland Heat #4) by Annabeth Albert to read and review.

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