This was one of those books that the cover just grabbed me.  How could it not?  A basket of luscious yarn, knitting needles and a black cat!  Plus, I loved the catchy title.

I'd "met" the author, Barbara Bretton, on Facebook.  I emailed to tell her I just loved her cover and I'd ordered her book that had just been released.  But I'll be honest......I was a little hesitant about reading it.  The reason being because the back cover mentioned "warlocks, sprites, vampires, and witches."  Okay........warlocks and witches?  Hey, I'm from Salem, the Witch City!  I DO fine with that kind of stuff and I love anything metaphysical or paranormal.  BUT I don't do bloody vampires, scary or gory. 

However, the blurb on the back of the book sounded pretty benign, "Sugar Maple looks like any bucolic Vermont town, but when the tourists go home, it's a different story....inhabited as it is with warlocks, sprites, vampires, witches, and an ancient secret."

Chloe Hobbs is the owner of Sticks and Strings, a popular knitting shop where your yarn never tangles and you always get gauge. (Would love to find a shop like this!) She's also a sorcerer's daughter with Sugar Maple's future in her hands, which means the whole town is casting spells meant to help her find Mr. Right.  Along comes Luke MacKenzie, a cop investigating Sugar Maple's first murder.  Only problem is.......he's 100% human.

I'm SO glad I put aside my concern and read the book.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  (wasn't scary or gory at all!)  Really great characters and just enough fantasy to allow your mind to escape and wander a bit. (Don't we all need that now and then?)  And I have to say this book will always be special to me.......this is what I had with me at the hospital while Ray had his surgery and it helped me through a very difficult time, both at the hospital and at home alone in the evenings. 

Bretton writes with humor and vivid description.  I felt like I was right there in that cool little knit shop and the town.  Her friends are quirky and I loved getting to know them.  And the best part?  This is the first book in a series.  Now I'm anxiously waiting for book #2 to be released. 

Barbara is also a USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than forty books. (Yes, I'm impressed) She currently has more than ten million copies in print around the world and her works have been translated into twelve languages in more than twenty countries. (Yup, I'm really impressed!)  Barbara lives in New Jersey and I'm sure grateful that she has befriended me.

If you're looking for a fun, upbeat, entertaining read.........this is it.  And I highly recommend it.

From meeting Barbara on Facebook, purchasing her book, exchanging some emails back and forth, something else has occurred.  Since I'm also an author and a knitter, Barbara asked me join the team at ROMANCING THE YARN as a resident blogger.  Needless to say, I was quite honored and flattered and yes, of course, I accepted.  I'm flattered because I'm in the midst of Barbara and other top authors over there.  I did my first blog on the site the other day.  So even if you're not a knitter or a reader (but you're probably one of the two) please pay us a visit at the blog.  You'll see my first entry on March 18 and I've given you the link above, but here it is again. 

I've been beyond busy since Ray got home from the hospital a week ago today.  Between all the chores around the house, tending to Ray and the animals, I'm also trying to juggle my writing work, which really got put aside.  Trying to visit any blogs has been impossible, but I'm hoping to gain a bit more time each day and finally get over to your blog and pay a visit.  It's been a constant catch-up for the past week, but I haven't forgotten any of you, my fellow bloggers, so bear with me.  And to you, my readers, thank you so much for stopping by and paying me a visit.

See you here next time.........