I enjoyed getting to know the strong brothers more. This isn't. trope or story I would have thought would happen with Lucas as the strong firefighter of the family, I always pictured a different bother to fall for the single mother if that story was going to happen.

I felt pacing wise it was very similar to book one, so on the slower side for me. I did really love Sidney's character though and felt she was. a perfect addition to this family.

I didn't realize when I picked this book up that it's the second in the series, and I'd like to think that explains some of my confusion with this story. I was very confused for the first half of this story, why was there so much drama between these two MCs? Why did they hate/like each other so hard? I felt like their tension wasn't explained well at first, and the way the book was edited, it felt like the story jumped around too much and it hindered me understanding what was going on.

It’s the second book in the Real Men Knit series. It’s a slow burn romance and kind of confusing with a lot of push and pull. It has its sweet and heartbreaking moments. Very entertaining

POC heros and they KNIT! So cute. I went into this a little hesitant but these two were so sweet I was gushing. I cannot wait to see more of Kwana Jackson.

Knot Again by Kwana Jackson is part two of a series called Real Men Knit, which is a pretty cool idea for a book series. I know exactly one man that knits, and he is a great guy so my interest in this novel was high. I liked the themes of family and friendship within Knot Again, but I do feel like I missed out on something. I assume perhaps not reading the first book, but wonder what it was I missed.

The past relationship between our two main characters is mostly explored through flashbacks. Lucas and Sydney do not seem like they are in the perfect places in their lives to start a relationship... of course, in real life that is when we typically meet someone, right? Sydney still needs to work through issues with her ex and Lucas needs to push past his fear. Regardless they have this intense attraction and the bonds of friendship are really growing. I really like the neighbors and firefighter family!

This is the second in her Real men Knit series. While you'll get more background if you've read the first book I thought this worked pretty well as a stand-alone if it's the first you pick up.

When Lucas Strong isn't working as a fireman, he has been hanging out at Scrubs, the laundromat across the street from his family's knitting shop. Going back years, it's been a place of comfort for him. At least it was until his high-school crush comes back into town to take over running it.

Sidney Harris-Hughes seems like she has an ideal life and marriage, so why on earth would she leave all that to come back to Harlem and run a laundromat? Well, surfaces can be deceiving, and she's decided it's time to put her daughter's, and her own, happiness first and that means getting away from her husband.

Lucas was the last thing on Sidney's mind when she came back into town...but the second she laid eyes on him that old crush kicked into high gear. Is it anything more than that though? Time will tell.

I always enjoy this author's characters. They feel so real and well-developed, and by the end of each book you're sad that you don't get to spend time with them anymore. It's been a while since I read a single mom romance, and I enjoyed the extra complexities that arise when there is more than just the two love interests to consider.

I struggled a LOT with Knot Again, which is a shame because I really wanted to love it (and yes, wishing doesn't make something a reality but I had high hopes).

I didn't realize when I picked this book up that it's the second in the series, and I'd like to think that explains some of my confusion with this story. Second chance romances can be hard for me because the MCs have a lot of backstory that readers have to catch up on, but I don't think that was even covered in the first book (I'm guessing??) because there were different MCs. Regardless, I was very confused for the first half of this story. Why was there so much drama between these two MCs? Why did they hate/like each other so hard? I felt like their tension wasn't explained well at first, and the way the book was edited, it felt like the story was jumping around too much that I didn't really know what was going on.

I think this book needed to work WAY more on establishing chemistry between the two MCs. Yes, I know there is a backstory there, but readers need to FEEL it in real time. I didn't get the attraction between these two, and I wanted more from both of them.

My main issues were too many flashbacks/thinking about old times, poor communication, and odd editing. I had to force myself to keep reading, and even the New York setting, nice side characters, a FIREMAN MC, and a good premise couldn't win me over.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

Such a fun and emotional romp through the real-life struggles of finding love, forgiveness, and a sense of self! Newly single mom, Sydney, has moved back to Harlem to with her daughter to help her grandfather run the family laundromat and find a sense of purpose besides being "the picture perfect wife and mother". Unfortunately, her ex-husband knows no boundaries and pushes her to the brink of sanity and security. But her rescue comes in the form of a childhood friend/crush who just so happens to live across the street (and is Mr. November in the NYFD sexy firefighter calendar)! Can Lucas find forgiveness from his own past in order to help himself and Sydney find a future together? Let's just say, there are some knots to untangle!
#KnotAgain #NetGalley

Knot Again is a second-chance romance set in a local laundromat. It centers around an NYC fireman (who was even in the calendar) and his high school crush who recently returned to the city with her daughter after leaving a toxic marriage.

This was a slow but sweet read with fun side characters that I look forward to reading more from.

Knot Again by Kwana Jackson follows Real Men Knit as book two in her Real Men Knit series. With a year of distance from the first book, the cloud of mourning over the loss of Mama Joy Strong has lifted. It feels okay to feel okay. Except, firefighter Lucas Strong, one of Mama Joy’s four adopted sons, doesn’t feel okay. He’s not sleeping.

When he’s not at the firehouse, Lucas has a room in the Strong family home above the Strong Knits store in the Harlem area of Manhattan, New York. He at least finds some peace at Scrubs, the 24-hour laundromat across the street. It’s probably no coincidence that his favorite place to hangout is owned by the grandfather of his high school crush, Sydney Harris.

The story begins after Sydney, divorced and humiliated by her cheating husband, has come home to Harlem. She puts up a front that she’s come home to help out her grandfather who is in declining health, but really, she’s hiding from her socialite friends back in Washington, D.C. Lucas Strong gave her nothing but grief in school and is not a complication she needs no matter how good looking he is.

Because of their prior relationship as neighbors and schoolmates, the story doesn’t easily fall into an enemies-to-lovers nor friends-to-lovers trope. Building on their past, a lot of the story’s set-up is told in flashbacks, and for me, spends too much time there. Both characters spend too much time in their own heads. It reads more like a slice-of-life than a typical romance, lacking a quantity of dialog or banter which would keep the story in the present. There’s very little conflict. In fact, as most of the conflict has already taken place, the characters are just now trying to repair the aftermath. They do reach a satisfying HEA.

I still enjoyed the small-town feeling Jackson has painted of Harlem with nosey neighbors and everyone all up in each other’s business, despite the fact that it’s in the middle of Manhattan. We had much less interaction with the other Strong siblings in this book. They show up in moments, but are not as present as they were in the first book since their mother’s knitting shop is now recovering from her loss. Still, there are two brothers to go who need their HEA and I am invested.

My Rating: B, Liked It

Knot Again was in interesting look at the lives of Lucas Strong and Sydney Harris-Hughes. Both dealing with complex family and life situations. Both a little stuck and in need of each other but their path can't be easy. Lucas has loved Sydney forever but when she went off to college he never wanted to speak up and be the man who held her back. Plus they'd never actually dated which made both reluctant to make some grand gesture. Sydney, with much nagging from her mother added in, wanted out. She wanted more than a laundromat in Harlem. But life had other plans. When she moves back home after her divorce, she finds she's not hating working at the laundromat with her beloved grandfather or spending time with Lucas. Originally, she would have denied the Lucas part. Lucas is slow to act. initially because he's unclear of her situation and later from flat out fear. I LOVED watching Lucas with Sydney's daughter. What a good man.

It was fun watching these two but also very frustrating at times. They were their own worse enemies. It was heartwarming to see them with their respective families. Also, interesting was watching Lucas deal with a bad work situation and the unwanted attention form being one of this year's calendar men.

I never really "liked" either of them though. They were OK but not "OMG I want to be her and love him". Lucas is too passive and Sydney too misguided and a little passive with her ex.

The book was well written. Ms. Jackson spun a good story that continued to move toward their happy ending.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! There was so much great humor and banter along with connection to the first book and lots of spicyesque moments in the book. I loved the progression of the relationship and them reconnecting. I do wish there was more to the epilogue but other than that, I really really liked this book and I can't wait for the next Strong brother book!

KNOT AGAIN is the second book in the Real Men Knit series and the first one I’ve read by this author. I plan to read the others in the series to reunite with the Strong brothers and see where their lives are.

The story is set in Harlem, primarily at a knitting shop and a laundromat with quite the cast of characters. Family and friends abound, but many suffer loss. So many characters are trying to stay strong—no pun intended—when there are others around to help them, if they would just let them. Lucas and his brother, who call the knitting shop home, have suffered from rough childhoods.

This is Lucas and Sydney’s story, but Lucas’s brothers and her family have supporting roles. Sydney’s ex-husband thinks she owes him something, and he can’t be more wrong. She’s back helping her grandfather at his laundromat due to a health scare and has her daughter in tow. Her mother and her ex don’t feel it’s the right place for them.

Lucas is a firefighter fighting many demons and doesn’t like letting anyone in. Will his crush on Sydney from fifteen years ago crush him now? Or is Sydney finally feeling the same things he is? Her daughter grounds her, although too many times Sydney thinks she’s too much like her mother while making decisions regarding the raising of her child.

Lucas and Sydney take one step forward and two or three back each time one of them speaks. They have a problem communicating, just like they did when they were younger. When they touch or kiss, however, they have no trouble understanding each other. Lucas definitely appreciates Sydney and her talents, but his self-esteem is so low he’s always apologizing until Sydney gets him to see what she sees.

The interactions with the neighbors and Lucas’s coworkers at the firehouse make the story shine. There are some sweet moments in between some of the dark memories. The story has a good flow and a happily ever after thanks to the epilogue that went above and beyond. I can’t wait to see what happens next to this family. I can’t knit, but this book almost had me trying to once again!

Who can resist a cinnamon roll firefighter hero trying to save the family knitting shop while also teaching a little girl to knit??? Not me, that’s who!!

The second book in the Real men knit series is a dual POV, second chance romance between Korean American Lucas and newly divorced, single mom Sydney (aka Lucas’s high school crush).

Exhausted from life as a DC society wife with a cheating husband, Sydney moves back to her Harlem neighborhood to help her ailing father with their Laundromat business and can’t resist falling for the quiet and sweet Lucas.

These books are all full of big hearted diverse characters, sweet romances with a little steam and the importance of found family and close-knit communities. Highly recommended for fans of Alexa Martin or the Bromance book club and Knitting in the city series.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Can we just appreciate how cute these covers are for a minute? 🤩 Knot again came out last week.

This book follows fireman Lucas Strong who is featured in the FDNY calendar. Given his new found notoriety he seeks solace in the local laundromat. When he runs into his high school crush and single mom, Sydney, a long forgotten attraction kicks into high gear.

Here is what I love about this series…the close knit community that uses the yarn shop to gather (pun intended). Here is where I had trouble with…the relationship between Sydney and Lucas is sweet but lacking chemistry. Did I mention this story has some spice? 🌶 overall this one was not my fave. It may be for you if you like second chance romance, firefighters and knitting!

This is the second book in the Real Men Can Knit series, but can be read as a standalone.
Sydney and Lucas both had a crush on each other in high school but neither acted on their feelings. Sydney moved away for college and hasn’t been back since. Now she’s returned. She’s divorced, a single mother, and is back to take care of her grandfather and his laundromat business. When Sydney and Lucas see each other again, their strong attraction to each other is reignited.

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I thought it was too slow with a lot of info from the past and the romance part was brief. The characters frustrated me with their lack of communication. I did enjoy that Lucas and his family were in the knitting business, which was unique.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a sucker for a second-chance romance, and when that second chance involves a sexy firefighter who knits - well, sign me up! Lucas and Sydney are likable characters, both separately and together, and Sydney was so relatable to me as a single mom. I remember too well what it was like trying to figure out who I was as a divorced, single mother. Like the first book in the series, Knot Again has a charm about it that just makes you smile. The only drawback for me was the way these two went back and forth. Of course, some angst is to be expected, and that back and forth is just part of it, I suppose. That aside, the story did hold my interest, and I look forward to whatever comes next for these brothers and the family knitting shop.

Sydney has moved back to Harlem to work at Scrubs, her grandfather’s laundromat, leaving her old life behind. Lucas has never left, and his family’s knitting shop is right across the street from Scrubs. Sydney and Lucas have known each other for years, and that attraction from long ago is starting to build up again. What will happen next?

I wanted to love this one. I really did. Unfortunately, nothing really worked for me. Sydney and Lucas both frustrated me to no end. Their characters were stubborn and lacked basic communication skills. The writing style often confused me. A character would be talking about one thing and suddenly go into a lengthy daydream about something from their past. And the conflict. There was way too much of it for me.

I did like that the author took a hobby such as knitting and made it a central theme of the book. I’ve never read a book with that in it before, and that kept things interesting.

If you’re into romcoms, I would still recommend that you at least check this one out and see if it sounds good to you. This book wasn’t for me, but I’m sure there are tons of people out there who would love this!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for my gifted copy. I’ve made a post on Goodreads and Bookstagram.

A calendar worthy firefighter, a mom willing to do the hard thing if it is best for her daughter, a chance meeting at a laundromat that sparks an old flame all combine to make Knot Again by Kwana Jackson a cute read.
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This is the second book in the Real Men Knit series, following the Strong brothers as they work to keep their beloved adopted mom’s knitting shop, a community hub, in business. After reading the first book, I had hoped that Lucas, the firefighter would be featured next and I got my wish.
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I enjoyed this second chance romance, high school crushes who meet again and let that attraction grow. Of course there are some obstacles in their way, and reading how they overcome them is half the fun. The other half is the obvious chemistry and steam between Lucas and Sidney.

Lucas finds solace at a 24 hour laundromat. He somehow becomes a local celebrity after posing in an FDNY calendar. While hiding out he meets a knitter, who happens to be the little girl of his old high school crush.
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When Sydney returns home she never expected to see her old crush, least of all at a laundromat. This was a cute one and would make an adorable movie.
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This book is out today!
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.