Malibu & Ewe

Christie Ridgway has a new series! The first book came out in June, and I finally got my hands on it.

Here’s the blurb to How To Knit A Wild Bikini:

The beachside shop Malibu & Ewe has become the knitting hot spot, the perfect place for L.A.’s hip, young crowd to enjoy some colourful yarn and intimate conversation. Just ask chef Nikki Carmichael. It could be the softest place for her to land if her new job falls through…

With a bum knee, Nikki’s days of restaurant work are numbered, so she’s set her sights on becoming a private chef. But her trial run with magazine editor Jay Buchanan comes with some strange conditions -- like pretending to be his girlfriend. If that’s not bad enough, trying to please Jay’s picky palate has Nikki running to Malibu & Ewe for a little stress relief -- and to put some space between her and his perfectly toned body.

As for Jay, he’s given up women for the year -- but finds himself drawn to the kitchen, where he’s intrigued by his sexy cook’s ability to withstand the heat between them. He thinks it’s time to turn up the flames…

Jay is an editor of a Playboy type of magazine, he's used to the B&A girls, and here enters Nikki who is completely different. She's a smart, confident, and a wise-cracking chef. She's also the answer to his prayers. She can pose as his girlfriend, and ward off his sexy neighbor who can't seem to leave him alone. The only problem is that he can't stop thinking about Nikki, she stirs up more than just good food. He's experiencing feelings that he has never had before. Now he just has to convince Nikki, that his feelings are more than just a summer fling. Nikki has trust issues, she's been hurt before and she tends to guard her body and heart. Along way we're introduced to a number of interesting characters, Cassandra the owner of Malibu & Ewe, Gabe her landlord, Shanna the beautiful but troubled neighbor, Jorge the sexy gardener and Oomfaa, which stands for "One of the Most Famous Actresses in America".

I read this book in one morning! It was that good! It was fast paced, it had great characters, an amazing setting, and dealt with knitting and food. Just a few of my favourite things! Plus it had Ridgway’s usual humor, and have I mentioned it was sizzling hot.

Can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series!

How to Knit a Wild Bikini by Christie Ridgway (4.5/5) Romance Contemporary; Published: Berkley Books (6/08); Series: #1, Malibu & Ewe; 100 + Reading Challenge (57); Library book;