Knit Tight (Portland Heat Book 4) Kindle Edition

This fourth story in the Portland Heat series brings together a barista and a knitting designer. (Let's just pause and reflect on the awesome uniqueness of that combination for a moment......okay, on with the review). I really enjoyed the previous stories in this series (which were all food or drink related in some fashion) and we get that link here with Brady, a top notch barista at a Portland coffee shop. When he's not working he's helping his 18 year old sister care for their two younger siblings after the tragic death of their parents. Between working full time and supporting his family, he's got no time for a relationship - but that doesn't stop him from eyeing the new addition to 'Knit Night' at the cafe. Evren is in town to take care of his aunt, a woman who had a big hand in raising him, and who is part of the knitting group that meets Wednesday's at Brady's work. She's unfortunately been diagnosed with cancer and unable to keep running her yarn shop without help, which is where Ev has stepped in to help manage the shop and care for her during her treatments. Brady can't help flirting with Ev when Ev indicates a similar interest. But Ev is also there only temporarily, ready to move back to his regular life once his aunt is better. Stealing a few moments together here and there seems to be all they can manage - but will they take a leap of faith and try for more?I loved this story. It's rather bittersweet, with Brady's responsibility as essentially a single parent, and Ev's role as caregiver for his dying aunt (and to be clear, if you are sensitive to the big C in your stories, you should be aware of this subplot) making their romantic forays that much more meaningful. The first stumbling block to them getting together is actually not the lack of time but rather Ev's personal conviction to not get involved with a bisexual, much to Brady's disappointment. That Ev would think that because Brady is bisexual he would not be committed to a relationship with a gay man is hurtful and at first damaging to the tentative steps they've made towards a relationship. Ev's had bad experiences in the past with bisexual lovers, and his fear of getting involved with Brady comes from that background. But he is unable to resist taking the friendship he and Brady are developing further, first with flirtation, and then more when it becomes clear that Brady is willing. The two of them are very compatible sexually, with Ev liking to take a dominant hand in things, and Brady quite happy to let his submissive side out to play, a break from his constant need to be in control at home all the time. Ev has some interesting quirks in the bedroom that amuse Brady, but for the reader, it makes their relationship feel believable. They are definitely hot together once they let down their guards, and the result is some steamy scenes.Trust is the biggest factor in holding Ev back from opening himself up fully to Brady, and combined with Brady's belief that his siblings would be a drawback to any man wanting a relationship with him, make for a lot of hardships for this couple to overcome. They are both really likable characters, and I loved seeing Ev open himself up to Brady, and in turn show Brady that it's okay to have someone else to lean on. In the end we get a story about two men who take each other's flaws hand in hand with their positive qualities and a reminder that romance can flourish in any situation. 5 stars.

All the things you want a quick MM Romance to be and not just full of sex, but full of life. Can’t wait to read more in the Portland Heat Series.

Another marvelous, heartwarming story in this lovely series by Annabeth Albert. I have enjoyed other books as well.Brady, 23, is a talented Barista, raising his 4 siblings since their folks died. I appreciated that our author knew that when kids parents die, the children get a Social Security check to help raise them. On Knit Night, the ladies descend, and a particular tall, handsome man shows up. He's Mira's nephew, Evren, 28, who is helping her through her Chemo and also with the Knit Shop. He knits, blogs, and writes books. They become friends first as Brady shows Evren around the area. The watch TV, talk and cook. It's an unusual pair, as Ev doesn't care for messy or penetrative sex, and Brady loves everything, but they make it work. The men are creative, kinky, sweet, and dirty, too. Wow. Brady and Ev need each other more and more. Ev's time with his Hala Mira is almost up, and Brady stretches himself thinner and thinner.Each man is struck by the community outpouring of help, food, and care, when Mira loses her battle. The blogs by Evren throughout the book are splendid and expressive, and add to the character beautifully. Our characters are so deeply thought-filled, charming and duty bound. Their realization of the neighborly acceptance is grand. The love is the forever kind of love, and we are happy to have been in their lives for a short while.Magnificent. Highly recommend ! ENJOY !================

3 stars - I liked itIn this one we see Brady, who we met in Delivered Fast, struggle to balance work, parenting his siblings, and a relationship. Brady was a wonderful and sweet man. He has been taking care of his younger siblings since his parents death and is struggling to make ends meet. When Evren shows up at the weekly Knit Night event at The People’s Cup Brady is instantly attracted to him. Their relationship is not an easy one due to all the serious commitments they both have. I did enjoy their relationship but it was a very emotional and complicated one which was a bit exhausting to read.I liked that we got brief snippets of Evren’s POV as chapter openers because he is a very contained man. He isn't the most outward person and is a bit prejudiced about bisexual people in the beginning. But he does show how much he cares with his actions. Evren is a very picky man who has specific conditions for sex and Brady is more than happy to provide them. I enjoyed seeing a couple that had a different kind of sex life because not everyone likes the same things. Overall, this book is sweet and filled with real life situations.Trigger warnings: on page illness and death of an family member from cancer; Evren is initially against dating a bisexual man due to his prejudice and past relationships; grief; death of parents in car accident mentioned; homophobic parents;

I think this is my favorite of the Portland Heat stories so far.Brady is such a sweet character. Loyal, hardworking and so tired from caring for this younger brother and sisters after the death of their parents 2 years previously. The whole family is beautifully drawn - and for all of their imperfections and difficulties, you can tell they love each other deeply. I completely fell for Ev and loved the use of his blog as chapter openers - setting the scene but also giving us more insight into him as he's clearly a quiet complex person. The horrible pain of caring for someone with cancer is really well dealt with for such a short book. I definitely shed a few tears towards the end. It is not full of hot and heavy sexy times, which totally fits with the story - but I still felt the romance. Not everyone likes the same things in bed and it was good to see that represented too. All in all I loved Brady and Ev, loved their story and will look forward to re-reading this one.

Brady finds himself surrounded each week in his coffee shop by cute older ladies knitting, one of whom has a very cute nephew he needs to work hard to get out of the friend zone and to see he wants more with Ev

2.5 starsI am a huge Annabeth Albert fan but this book was a big disappointment.I've loves the Portland Heat series, each book has got better and better...until this one.After his parents death, Brady, who is 23, is trying to work and bring up his younger siblings with the erm...help? of his somewhat immature and incredibly selfish 18 year old sister.Enter Evren the nephew of the owner of the local knitting shop who was abandoned by his Turkish family when he came out.I really liked Brady in the previous book but I wasn't crazy about him in this one, he lost his charm for me somehow.I found everything about Evren just a bit...odd and I didn't really warm to him despite how sweet he was with his Auntie and with Brady's siblings.I never really felt their connection and didn't feel invested in them as a couple.I disliked Renee intensely. Selfish doesn't begin to cover her attitude.Mira was sweet and beautiful and wonderful.There's not a whole lot of romance and the sex scenes were...awkward and frankly a bit odd, and not in a good way. Unlike the sex scenes in previous books I just didn't find these...sexy.The writing is as always top notch, smooth, flowing and polished, but it felt like there was something missing for me and it all felt a bit flat and, considering my enjoyment of this series, a bit of an anticlimax.