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alison_n's review
4.0
There is a rumor going around that all knitting fiction books follow a certain formula... This book does not fit! It does center around the owner of a knitting shop, but it is more of a paranormal romance than anything else.
Sticks and Strings is no ordinary knitting store. In this store, no one ever drops a stitch, and you always make gauge. (dreamy sigh) The town of Sugar Maple appears much the same, a picture-perfect New England town. A spell has been cast to keep outsiders from noticing the vampires, werewolves, fae, trolls, etc. who inhabit the area. This has worked for hundreds of years, until a murder happens in Sugar Maple, and a cop from Boston arrives to investigate the murder and potentially threaten their way of life.
I picked this book up off the shelf at work and I really enjoyed it. If you like paranormal romances, you will like it...if you also knit, it's a bonus!
Sticks and Strings is no ordinary knitting store. In this store, no one ever drops a stitch, and you always make gauge. (dreamy sigh) The town of Sugar Maple appears much the same, a picture-perfect New England town. A spell has been cast to keep outsiders from noticing the vampires, werewolves, fae, trolls, etc. who inhabit the area. This has worked for hundreds of years, until a murder happens in Sugar Maple, and a cop from Boston arrives to investigate the murder and potentially threaten their way of life.
I picked this book up off the shelf at work and I really enjoyed it. If you like paranormal romances, you will like it...if you also knit, it's a bonus!
quinnster's review
3.0
Once I finally got going the book flew by. It was fun and easy, silly and sweet. I loved that I knew what she was talking about in regards to the knitting references, but it didn't have the same effect on me that the other knitting cozies have. Usually I itch to knit something after reading those, but this time it was more about the romance than either knitting or the mystery. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book!
crystalpistal99's review
4.0
A cute romance book with magic involved? I'm in! It was a nice fun read. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the series holds!
fleurette's review
4.0
This is my first paranormal cozy mystery. In fact, it is one of very few cozy mysteries I have ever read. I liked the world creation and the characters. The mystery part was good but predictable.
brittanybwrites's review
5.0
Okay...this book right here was a quick read for me-one because I don't read books about knitting, and two, I honestly enjoyed this book a lot. The action, the Fae, and the love sparking between Chloe and Luke makes me wanna get the rest of this book series and marathon this book. Now I thought I wouldn't like this book because of the knitting thing, but if you take that out and fall in love with the town, the townsfolk (vampires, fae, witches, shapeshifters, warlocks, sprites) then you got one hell of a book.
But what is this amazing book about?
Chloe Hobbs is the owner of the knitting shop Sticks and Strings, and she's a half-human, half-sorcerer who was human, never gotten her powers at all....until the death of a woman named Suzanne died and then all of a sudden, the town of Montiplier (as soon as I saw that town's name, I ironically thought of Markiplier-if you know who I'm talking about, then you'll get it) decided that oh, Sugar Maple needs a police station.
Problem with that....
1.) Basically, there's no crime in Sugar Maple. None what so ever.
and Two...well, there is no two. All except the supernatural, Fae things, then that's it.
Enter Luke MacKenzie: a 100% human who's there to solve Suzanne's murder...but everytime he and Chloe touch....to quote Cascada, 'it feels like magic.' For reals. When they touch, fireworks goes off, and then that's when Chloe gets her magic.
But of course, we have some stupid people who wants the Book of Spells and take it away from Chloe. AKA Isadora, the Fae who really hates Chloe-to me, FOR NO REASON-and the fight between her and Chloe, along with her son Dane (who I hated so much-I liked his twin Gunnar better) almost destroyed Sticks and Strings, just for the book. But Chloe banished her and she also thought that Luke was dead, but he was protected by the Book of Spells, which was actually a composition book.
After the fight between Chloe, Luke, and Isadora, Luke left, and our new sorceress was sad, knowing that she and Luke couldn't have a relationship at all. But he came back, and he's staying, so that's good and MY OTP GOT TOGETHER. AWE YISS.
But what is this amazing book about?
Chloe Hobbs is the owner of the knitting shop Sticks and Strings, and she's a half-human, half-sorcerer who was human, never gotten her powers at all....until the death of a woman named Suzanne died and then all of a sudden, the town of Montiplier (as soon as I saw that town's name, I ironically thought of Markiplier-if you know who I'm talking about, then you'll get it) decided that oh, Sugar Maple needs a police station.
Problem with that....
1.) Basically, there's no crime in Sugar Maple. None what so ever.
and Two...well, there is no two. All except the supernatural, Fae things, then that's it.
Enter Luke MacKenzie: a 100% human who's there to solve Suzanne's murder...but everytime he and Chloe touch....to quote Cascada, 'it feels like magic.' For reals. When they touch, fireworks goes off, and then that's when Chloe gets her magic.
But of course, we have some stupid people who wants the Book of Spells and take it away from Chloe. AKA Isadora, the Fae who really hates Chloe-to me, FOR NO REASON-and the fight between her and Chloe, along with her son Dane (who I hated so much-I liked his twin Gunnar better) almost destroyed Sticks and Strings, just for the book. But Chloe banished her and she also thought that Luke was dead, but he was protected by the Book of Spells, which was actually a composition book.
After the fight between Chloe, Luke, and Isadora, Luke left, and our new sorceress was sad, knowing that she and Luke couldn't have a relationship at all. But he came back, and he's staying, so that's good and MY OTP GOT TOGETHER. AWE YISS.
krisrid's review
4.0
I very much enjoyed this first installment in the Sugar Maple series. The characters are multi-faceted and interesting, the plot built well to a satisfying conclusion and there was lots of opportunity left for future books.
Chloe Hobbs lives in Sugar Maple, Vermont. An idyllic, picture-postcard town that appear perfect. But actually, all that perfection is supported by magick. The town is filled with magical beings, and protected by a charm created three centuries ago by Chloe's ancestress, Aerynn.
Unfortunately, the charm requires a Hobbs woman who has come into her powers, and the production of female offspring to keep the charm strong, and the town protected. Chloe is the last of Aerynn's line, and there is no man in the picture.
To make matters worse, Chloe's powers are nowhere to be found and there's no indication they will manifest anytime soon, so the protections that have kept the town safe for 300 years are beginning to break down. That could allow Isadora - the evil Fae queen who's wanted to rule Sugar Maple and take it back into the mists to Fae - to get her wish.
Enter Luke MacKenzie - the sheriff sent from Boston to investigate the death of his friend Suzanne - a visitor to Sugar Maple, and the first death EVER inside town limits.
MacKenzie's presence could threaten the very existence of Sugar Maple as he pokes into things better left alone. Of course, he and Chloe are immediately attracted to one another, with ACTUAL sparks flying everytime they touch. Could Luke be Chloe's true love and the answer to everyone's prayers? Since Luke's a human, it doesn't seem likely, but then again, Sugar Maple's filled with magick, so anything is possible!
The story is developed very smoothly and effectively to the ending that is what you hope for. Looking forward to the next book!
Chloe Hobbs lives in Sugar Maple, Vermont. An idyllic, picture-postcard town that appear perfect. But actually, all that perfection is supported by magick. The town is filled with magical beings, and protected by a charm created three centuries ago by Chloe's ancestress, Aerynn.
Unfortunately, the charm requires a Hobbs woman who has come into her powers, and the production of female offspring to keep the charm strong, and the town protected. Chloe is the last of Aerynn's line, and there is no man in the picture.
To make matters worse, Chloe's powers are nowhere to be found and there's no indication they will manifest anytime soon, so the protections that have kept the town safe for 300 years are beginning to break down. That could allow Isadora - the evil Fae queen who's wanted to rule Sugar Maple and take it back into the mists to Fae - to get her wish.
Enter Luke MacKenzie - the sheriff sent from Boston to investigate the death of his friend Suzanne - a visitor to Sugar Maple, and the first death EVER inside town limits.
MacKenzie's presence could threaten the very existence of Sugar Maple as he pokes into things better left alone. Of course, he and Chloe are immediately attracted to one another, with ACTUAL sparks flying everytime they touch. Could Luke be Chloe's true love and the answer to everyone's prayers? Since Luke's a human, it doesn't seem likely, but then again, Sugar Maple's filled with magick, so anything is possible!
The story is developed very smoothly and effectively to the ending that is what you hope for. Looking forward to the next book!
lauriehouse's review
3.0
I love the side characters more then the main character so far. Especially Gunnar? IDK How to spell his name, but he seems aweosme.
sgeologist's review
5.0
You know what? I loved this book and I won't apologize for it. It was light and fun and there was bonus knitting, which seemed kind of like a way to tap the fiber arts market than a plot point but I'll go for it. It's a little fantasy and a little romance and I enjoyed every minute.
mommachristy2's review
4.0
I picked up this book looking for a light read and got just that. I greatly enjoyed this book for it's simplicity, humor, down-to-Earth tone, and content. I look forward to picking up more of Bretton's work in the future.