Reviewed by Buffie Johnson
Publisher:  Berkley
Release Date:  June 2, 2009
4.25 stars
Cassandra Riley is the owner and operator of Malibu & Ewe, a knitting shop on the shores of Malibu Beach. The product of sperm donation and the only child of a free-spirited woman, Cassandra has always dreamed of being a part of a family. Through some research, she has located her half sisters, Nikki (from How to Knit a Wild Bikini) and Juliet (from Unravel Me), and has enjoyed the new found relationship with them.  Her family is starting to come together; if she could just get her landlord to come out of his grief long enough to realize that she loves him with all of her heart and soul. But from one drinking escapade to another, Cassandra begins to wonder if Gabe will ever see what is standing in front of him.

Gabe Kincaid is a man who has been thinking of his death for the last couple of years, ever since his beloved wife and little girl were killed by an automobile accident by a drunk driver.  Besides his drinking binges, the only comfort he finds from his misery is teasing his tenant about her organic, green ways. In fact, he has given Cassandra the nickname “Froot Loop”. Gabe realizes Cassandra has the potential to get under his skin, in a good way, but knows his rotten black heart will never love another person like he loved his wife and little girl. But little by little, just like knitting a sweater, Cassandra weaves her love around the brokenness of Gabe’s lonely heart.

The relationship between Cassandra and Gabe has been slowly building since the first book in this trilogy.  Christie Ridgway does a fabulous job of forming the relationship between these two characters a little at time and I couldn’t wait to read this book to see what would happen between them. These two characters have been dancing around each other for some time and when they finally come together, the magic they create and share is just beautiful. Cassandra’s loving ways slowing penetrate Gabe’s dried up heart and begin to fill it with hope.  Though Gabe tries his best to fight against Cassandra’s love, when he finally realizes his future is with her the sweetness of his love rises from the pages and fills the reader’s heart with joy. It has been a while since a book has brought me to tears, but ending of this one sure did. Here is a quick glance at the scene that was so beautiful to me:

“Will you be my future, Cassandra?  Will you be my friend, my wife, the mother of my children?  Will you be my family?”

Emotion ripped through her.  Did she need to answer?  He knew what it would be because he knew her so well.  Be my family.  The man was always listening.

Dirty Sexy Knitting is the final installment in the Malibu & Ewe trilogy.  I would highly recommend reading the first two books in this series (How to Knit a Wild Bikini and Unravel Me) before reading Dirty Sexy Knitting. The history of relationships revealed in the first two books is valuable while reading this one. So if you are in the mood for a wonderful read, don’t just pick up this book .. . . get the entire series and find yourself immersed in the joys of knitting and love!