More chick-lit than knit-lit and not very unexpected. It's ok for those days that you want to read something simple. ( )

This is a wonderful, fun series about romance and knitting. This is the first book in a three book series. I enjoyed the characters and the mix of my favorite hobby other than reading (knitting) and a good romance. The best book is the third one but the first and second are also good. ( )

Love Christie Ridgway, and have read a lot of her books over the years. This one is my least favorite. Maybe because my hopes were so high for it or whatever, but ultimately I was left extremely disappointed. There were some really great moments, and overall it was a good read once I started skimming/skipping the superfluous parts. Without the excessive derails and mentally unstable supporting cast, this book probably would've gotten a 4-4.5 out of me. That said, I would recommend it if it was discounted or free, simply for the epic hilarity that is Jay Buchanan. ( )

Not Ridgway best. Looks like this is going to be a series on 3 half-sisters. Same dad by fertile insemination. Malibu, NIkki is a chef, Jay a magazine editor. half sister, cassandra is knit shop owner who like gabe her landlord. jay neigbor shanna ends up liking jays friend the landscape company owner, jorge. did not really enjoy ( )

Rating: 3.5

Nikki's bad knee has ended her career as a chef, and she has switched to being a personal cook for a journalist of a very popular men's magazine. Jay Buchanan needs a cook for one month, and no more. He has sworn off women for the rest of the year (due to women being so darn complicated) and is hesitant to hire a female cook. Desperate to get the job and pay the bills, Nikki claims to be a lesbian so he'll hire her and not be worried about his "year-without-women" coming to an end. Jay agrees, as long as she pretends to be his girlfriend… to get the clingy girl-next-door to give him some space. Nikki is now a girlfriend-fake-lesbian-chef-with-some-benefits. Emphasis on the some.

Nikki is pretty sure she can handle one month of cooking for a rich, stuck-up, spoiled, gorgeous man, as long as she keeps their relationship strictly professional, and keeps up her facades. But she doesn't take into account the idea of Jay falling in love with her… and her falling right back. But Nikki has some ghosts in her closet. Can she let go of them and learn to love Jay?

How to Knit a Wild Bikini was a cute, slightly sappy, yet enjoyable read. The characters were likeable—definitely likeable, in Jay's case—and the pacing was good. The writing wasn't horrible but it wasn't anything spectacular.

I gave it an extra half a star because it was addicting! I couldn't put it down. The title and cover could have been better, since there was no knit bikini, only the mention of one. I wouldn't read the sequel, but I did enjoy this one.

It was, in some ways, unrealistic. Nikki had a lot of stuff in her past, and her reactions weren't always in line with them. It surprised me how much the author was able to put into this story. There were a lot of little "mini-stories" woven into it… it almost felt ridiculous, but then again it was still fun to read. Sometimes, for a summer read, you just need a book that let's you goof off. This is one of them.

There was a fun combination of an untouchable free spirited woman, a stuck-up but slightly desperate sexy man, and hand-painted knitting needles. This one is perfect for an afternoon on a couch with a pair of knitting needles (If you're talented enough to knit and read at the same time. It does take skill.)

Content/Recommendation: Some language and sex. Ages 18+ ( )