Reviewed by Lisa
TITLE: Purls of Wisdom
SERIES: Homemade for the Holidays
AUTHOR: Morgan James
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 50 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2019
BLURB:
Yarn shop owner and ex-soldier Noah Miller never looks forward to the Christmas season. At least this year the break coincides with Hanukkah. But before his vacation, he has to survive the December rush.
When virgin knitter Finley Mason comes into the store desperate for yarn, needles, and lessons so he can win a bet against Hazel, a woman who must be his wife, Noah agrees to help him despite his better judgment—he usually hates teaching.
As the deadline to finish his roommate’s scarf looms, Finley falls in love with the reclusive shopkeeper, and he tries his best to woo Noah with all the magic of New York City at Christmastime. Noah could easily be swept away—if only Finley wasn’t straight and taken….
REVIEW:
I absolutely love this year’s Advent Calendar theme! I don’t know how to crochet or knit and I don’t have a creative bone in my body. I do love reading about people who are crafty & I especially love reading about guys who pursue crafts dominated by women. After reading this story, I plan to buy some knitting needles, find some instruction videos, and try to learn how to knit.
Noah is a Mr. Grumpy Pants who doesn’t particularly like the Holiday season, doesn’t like interacting with other people, and definitely doesn’t want to be a teacher.
Finn is like a hyper puppy who has way too much energy and he manages to persuade Noah to teach him how to knit so he won’t lose a bet he’s made with Hazel.
Finn’s character is so overtly flamboyant I’m not sure how anyone would mistake him for a straight guy. Noah’s assumption that Hazel must be Finn’s wife easily could have been corrected with one simple question. Especially as Finn used every opportunity to shamelessly flirt with Noah.
I loved how charismatic and fun Finn was and how fierce Hazel was. Even though the story is a romance between Finn and Noah, I would have enjoyed more time spent with her. I liked how Mr. Grumpy Pants Noah let Finn talk him into knitting lessons as well as staying late at the shop. I do wish there had been more communication about Finn and Hazel’s relationship.
I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a grouch being charmed by a perpetually cheerful person.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Sounds like a really cute story
I’d like this one!
Do like stories where convention is challenged, looking forward to the knitting!
This sounds like a fun one. Thank you for the review!
I liked this one.