How to Knit a Heart Back Home: A Cypress Hollow Yarn (Cypress Hollow Yarns) [Paperback]

Rachael Herron (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 1, 2011 | Series: Cypress Hollow Yarns

“A warm-hearted hug from a talented author—and knitter. It’s a sweet comfort read, with an edge of humor and irony that strikes just the right note.”
—New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs

 

“Rachael Herron charms with an emotional, heart-warming story of family, friendship and love in a town you’ll never want to leave.”
—USA Today bestselling author Barbara Freethy

 

Return with rising romance star Rachael Herron to the town of Cypress Hollow—site of her unforgettable debut, How to Knit a Love Song—and learn How to Knit a Heart Back Home. Fans of Debbie Macomber will adore this joyous tale of a fiery independent lady whose life interweaves with a bad-boy ex-cop’s and the shared mission that knits their hearts together.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The warm and fuzzy romance in Herron's second Cypress Hollow yarn (after How to Knit a Love Song) centers on Lucy Harrison, fire brigade volunteer, bookseller, and fan of the famous knitting work of Eliza Carpenter, the deceased friend of Lucy's grandmother and Irene Bancroft, the mother of Lucy's high school crush, Owen. So when Owen, a former San Francisco cop, returns after an on-the-job injury forces him into retirement at 35, Lucy is thrilled. With Irene suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's in a home, Owen takes up residence in the parsonage next to the Book Spire, a deconsecrated church turned book store that Lucy owns. Not surprisingly, a romance develops. Then, while helping Owen with his mother's belongings, Lucy discovers a valuable cache of Eliza Carpenter's patterns and papers, prompting her to write a biography of Eliza. Things come to a dramatic and contrived head when Owen's mother flees the home and ends up in an abandoned lighthouse, where Owen's injury forces Lucy into action. Herron's sweet, comforting tale comes with a built-in surprise: the knitted pattern for Ruby's Bookstore Sweater is included in the back. (Mar.)
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Review

''A warmhearted hug from a talented author--and knitter. The love story of Lucy and Owen will stay in your heart long after the last page is turned.'' --Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author

''Rachael Herron knits up another wonderful Cypress Hollow tale that will leave readers begging for more.'' --Barbara Bretton, USA Today bestselling author

''Warm and fuzzy . . . [A] sweet, comforting tale.'' --Publishers Weekly

''In her engaging sequel to How to Knit a Love Song, Herron revisits the community of Cypress Hollow and its familiar faces as well as new characters who are as entertaining as they are complicated. Patrons who in the past have clamored for the novels of Debbie Macomber, Kate Jacobs, or Gil McNeil will definitely find this a good read.'' --Library Journal

''Rachael Herron knits up another wonderful Cypress Hollow tale that will leave readers begging for more.'' --Barbara Bretton, USA Today bestselling author

''Warm and fuzzy . . . [A] sweet, comforting tale.'' --Publishers Weekly

''In her engaging sequel to How to Knit a Love Song, Herron revisits the community of Cypress Hollow and its familiar faces as well as new characters who are as entertaining as they are complicated. Patrons who in the past have clamored for the novels of Debbie Macomber, Kate Jacobs, or Gil McNeil will definitely find this a good read.'' --Library Journal --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061841315
• ISBN-13: 978-0061841316
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #875,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rachael Herron received her MFA in English and Creative Writing from Mills College. She lives in Oakland, CA with her family and has way more animals than she ever planned to, though no sheep or alpacas (yet). She learned to knit at the age of five, and generally only puts the needles down to eat, write, or sleep, and sometimes not even then.

The newest book in the Cypress Hollow Yarn series, WISHES AND STITCHES is out now. HOW TO KNIT A LOVE SONG and HOW TO KNIT A HEART BACK HOME are the first in the series. Her memoir, A LIFE IN STITCHES, is available from Chronicle Books. Visit her at www.yarnagogo.com. (Photo: Khalil Robinson)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great read! March 10, 2011

By Book Lover from GA

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this book so much, I ended up skipping dinner AND my evening workout because I was too engrossed in the book to put it down! Then the moment I finished it, I had to come on here and rave about it! I should be sleeping right now since I have to get up early tomorrow and go to work, but the book was that good!

Where to start? I loved the premise of a kiss that was so powerful, it changed both the lives of Owen and Lucy. Speaking of which, I loved them both! Both are characters that are hurting and in the book they come to term with what has been causing them pain and holding them back.

Lucy is afraid of change and has become so afraid that she fails to notice changes that have happened and that are going on around her. She's afraid of many things and seems to be a scaredy cat, yet has an inner core of steel which will surprise you. She faces each one of her phobias head on, which makes you admire her. Owen is an ex-cop who had to take medical retirement after he was injured in raid that cost him someone he loved and trusted. He too missed changes happening around him, and now is in physical and mental pain. Plus, he's the son of the town's black sheep and so is treated very rudely on his return to town. He's the bad boy everyone was warned to stay away from. But who can resist a bad boy?

While I was expecting the romance between Owen and Lucy, I was pleasantly knocked for a loop by the great use of other members of Cypress Hollow. It was great to see and hear from Cade and Abigail, and to find out what had happened after How to Knit a Love Song. They played a small but important part in Owen and Lucy's story.
I also loved Irene and how her Alzheimer's was shown. It was very realistic and heartfelt. I laughed out loud when Toots came into the picture. She sounded like someone I'd love to meet and would be embarrassed to be around if she was my mother! I loved how we were introduced to more of Cypress Hollow's citizens and Lucy's family.

All in all, I think Rachael Herron did another great job with How to Knit a Heart Back Home. She took two imperfect people and made them foils to each other. This book is definitely a keeper for me. I'm just eager for the next one!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Measure of a good read: no notes in the margins or crossed out words! June 15, 2011

By Picky Reader

Format:Paperback

I read a lot of romances, and I have my favorite authors and publishers. I follow Ms Herron's knitting blog with enthusiasm, and felt somewhat obligated to read her book. I had it around the house for some time, but kept passing it over for another, more familiar author. I was skeptical that a knitting romance novel would really make the grade. And this paperback wasn't even the right size and shape for a romance! I am also a very picky reader. I will often cross out words and make corrections in the margin, or the little voice in my head will call out, "Foul, author! You can't get away with that c**p!"

Once I picked this book up and started reading I could not put it down. I adore the characters, and felt like they were folks I would love to get to know. They were very real and very funny and sad and interesting, just like the very best people in my own life are. I laughed out loud (always a good sign) and cried more than once (also good). And my correction pen never came out for this book, nor did I have even one peep from the little voice. Just a darn good, entertaining read with characters and moments that will live on.

Ready for more, Ms Herron.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Ms. Herron has come a long way! May 25, 2011

By J Money

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read "How to Knit a Love Song" and wasn't really impressed, but I found this installment to be a fantastic improvement over "Love Song."

The characters in this book seemed more real to me than Cade and Abigail because they have so much more going on in their lives than each other. Lucy is a woman of many hats: She owns a bookstore, volunteers with the fire department, and is in the process of writing a biography. I also liked the subplot of Owen learning to deal with his past and his mother's worsening Alzheimer's.

I still feel like the chapters narrated by Owen sounded more like a woman trying to think like a man, but he was the most believable when he spoke about his mother, his past, and his time as a police officer.

Overall, "How to Knit a Heart Back Home" is a great lighthearted read. Ms. Herron has come a long way since her first book and I expect her next novel to be even better than this one.