The Knitting Diaries by Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, and Christina Skye

               For the past week and a half I have been in a book drought.  Everything I pick up holds my attention for only a few minutes, if that long.  My mom solved this problem by lending me The Knitting Diaries.  This book consists of three stories written by three different authors, all with knitting as a part of the story in some way.  It did not take me long to read, but as I did, I was hooked.

                The first story is written by Debbie Macomber.  She uses characters from her Blossom Street Series, which I greatly enjoy and anxiously await the next installment.  This story is based on bookstore owner Anne Marie, her adopted daughter Ellen, and Ellen’s biological father Tim.  Ellen would like for Anne Marie and Tim to get together, but there are things, and people, standing in the way.  This is a fun story, with great characters, just like Ms. Macomber’s books.  If you have not read the Blossom Street series, this story will probably make you want to.  It is worth it.

                Susan Mallery wrote the second story.  I may have read something by her before, but I am not sure.  In any case, this story made me want to pick up one of her books.  Robyn returns home after spending years trying to make it on Broadway.  She comes to take care of her grandmother after a surgery and make some changes in her life.  At the knitting shop her grandmother owns, Robyn meets T.J., a man with a tragic past, who has doubts about Robyn’s true motives.  There’s a confrontation, and then…

                The final story came from Christina Skye.  It is the most serious of the three, but it is not any less appealing, especially if you like animals.  Caro returns home after a serious car accident.  Her injuries are to the point that she is questioning whether or not she will ever knit again.  Not long after she arrives, Caro meets Gage, a marine about to return to Afghanistan.  They spend only one hour together, but that is enough.  With Gage away, Caro works on healing and taking care of the family Gage left behind, his devoted cat and dog.  There are two big questions throughout the story.  Will Gage come back safely?  Is Caro every going to be able to knit again?

                Each story is accompanied by a knitting pattern.  I will admit, since I only know two stitches (all knitters take a guess at what they could possibly be), I did not look very hard at the instructions. As the projects are described in the stories, I am sure more accomplished knitters than I will truly enjoy them.