When a Christmas shopping expedition brings Tomy Peralta into Jason Winters’s yarn store, both men feel an immediate and intense spark of attraction, but dance instructor Tomy intends to propose to his boyfriend, Sean, at Christmas. Unfortunately for Tomy, marriage isn’t on career-minded Sean’s agenda. Heartbroken, Tomy throws himself into his work until his mother convinces him that learning to … to knit might help take his mind off his failed romance.
Jason falls hard for Tomy, but he knows Tomy needs time to heal and to trust in love again. As Jason teaches Tomy to knit, Tomy teaches him to dance in return. Just when it seems Tomy is ready for a new romance, Sean shows up, wanting Tomy back. Will Tomy give his heart to Sean once more, or will Tomy finally see Sean for who he truly is, and choose the man who helped him knit his heart together again?
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Tomy Peralta is looking to buy his mother and sister Christmas presents. He decides that since they are both avid knitters he’ll buy them something from their favorite yarn store. Since he doesn’t really know what to buy them, he asks the store owner Jason Winters what he should buy. He is instantly attracted to Jason but since he’s in a committed relationship and hopefully soon to be engaged, he just enjoys the view. Jason is also immediately attracted to Tomy but when he hears of Tomy’s committed relationship he doesn’t make a move.
The new year has started and Tomy is now a single guy and still depressed over the loss of his ex. His mother talks him into going to the yarn store to learn to knit. This starts a friendship between Tomy and Jason. A couple months into Tomy’s lessons, Jason decides he wants to learn to dance, so that he doesn’t look like a fool at his sister’s upcoming wedding. He goes to Tomy’s dance studio to get private lessons. This strengthens the attraction between Tomy and Jason and they slowly start dating, holding off on getting intimate too soon.
This is a slow friendship to lovers romance. It has all the feels of love and loss, depression and love again. I really liked that Tomy and Jason took things slowly so that Tomy was truly over his ex before they got serious. This allowed them to build a solid relationship that doesn’t even get a small rocking when the ex steps back into the picture. I would have liked a little more heat and passion but it’s still a good romance. Recommended for a easy read in a day.
Two men hoping for love that will last a lifetime. Tomy’s anticipated hopes were crushed but Jason hopes for a chance to change Tomy’s mind with his own hope for love. When Tomy’s disappointment opens the door for Jason to show Tomy that the right man for him is still waiting it leads to a very slow-burn, gradual deepening of affections between the two men.
Tomy was cautious, vulnerable, hurt, and lost. A far cry from the happy, flirty, confident man we meet in the beginning with the easy smiles and eager happiness. While I do feel there’s a certain amount of depth missing despite all that we know about him, I still think he’s a good character. He’s a solid guy that we root for from the very start. His honest reticence in beginning something or jumping into the club scene in an attempt to get over his ex is admirable and I like that it gave Jason a chance to show Tomy just what he could have instead.
I liked Jason quite a bit. He’s a giant of a man with the softest, most earnest heart ever. All he wants out of life is love and happiness and there’s something about Tomy that calls to that part of him. Jason is direct, yet subtle. He knows Tomy isn’t ready for something more romantic but for all Jason does to further their friendship he makes just enough overtures to stay out of the friend-zone.
Their dance, both figuratively and literally, stokes a slow-burning passion that creates a far better foundation for the men than the years of shallow interest Tomy mistook for love from Sean. The story was light, happy, and a very easy read. There were times that it felt like it dragged. When I say it’s a slow-burn type of story, slow is the operative word here. Months and months go by of dance classes, knitting projects, and awkwardly withheld flirting. Once they were on the same page, though, the tender passion they feel for one another is palpable and I felt myself breathing out, “Finally…!” The end of the story was equally tender and sweet rounding out the light, heartfelt story of love and healing broken hearts.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
I really enjoyed this short romantic novel. It is fun, sweet, hot, and has a very appropriately happy ending. I think the only thing which surprised me was the continued mentioning of Sean – he seemed like a regular shadow in the story, when really, I expected them to look forward more rather than backwards.
Whether you are into knitting and ballroom dancing or not, you cannot help but be impressed by these two guys and the efforts that they take to learn each other’s crafts. I very much enjoyed being a voyeur in the dance studio, the first tango is hot, the second off the charts. Jason showed the level of patience which I think is partly genetic, but also follows on from his knee injury. He certainly turns on its head, the impression of the type of man who might knit!
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Knitting a Broken Heart Back Together by Ari McKay to read and review.