The Neanderthal Box Set

Knitting in the City #1-1.5

by Penny Reid

** 2020 Revised and Expanded edition of Neanderthal Seeks Human and Neanderthal Marries Human from the Knitting in the City Series **

Neanderthal Seeks Human, Book #1 in the Knitting in the City Series

“5 stars!!! Smart, funny, sexy and all around wonderful!” -Book Babes Unite Blog

“Such a fun read! A quirky, nerdy, shy girl and a sexy, hot alpha male.” -Goodreads reviewer

There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris:1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn't know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store.

To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan—aka Sir McHotpants—witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn to make her an offer she can't refuse.

New York Times Bestselling Author Penny Reid’s debut novel!

★ AAR top 100 romances of all time ★

Neanderthal Seeks Human is book #1 in the Knitting in the City series. Each book is a standalone, full length (110k words), contemporary romantic comedy novel, and follows the misadventures and exploits of seven friends in Chicago, all members of the same knitting group.


Neanderthal Marries Human, Book #1.5 in the Knitting in the City Series

“What an incredibly beautiful, sexy, swoony, smart and funny story about family, friends and love!” - TJ Loves to Read Romance Book Blog

“HOT, STEAMY AND SEXY!” - Feeding My Addiction Book Reviews

There are three things you should know about Quinn Sullivan: 1) He is madly in love with Janie Morris, 2) He’s not above playing dirty to get what (or who) he wants, and 3) He doesn’t know how to knit.

After just five months of dating Janie, Quinn—former Wendell and unapologetic autocrat—is ready to propose marriage. In fact, he’s more than ready. If it were up to Quinn, he would efficiently propose, marry, and beget Janie with child all in the same day—thereby avoiding the drama and angst that accompanies the four stages of pre-matrimony: engagement, meeting the parents, bachelor/bachelorette party, and overblown, superfluous wedding day traditions.

But Janie, much to Quinn’s dismay, tosses a wrench in his efficacious endeavors and challenges him to prove his devotion by going through the matrimonial motions, no matter how minute and mundane.

Will Quinn last until the wedding day? Or will he yield to his tyrant impulses?

This book is not a standalone. It is the sequel to ‘Neanderthal Seeks Human,’ and is book #1.5 in the Knitting in the City series.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Humor, Fiction, Chick Lit, Anthologies

822 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2014

About the author

Sign up for the newsletter of awesome: www.pennyreid.ninja/newsletter

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

FOLLOW PENNY:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyreidwriter
Twitter: www.twitter.com/reidromance
Instagram:www.instagram.com/reidromance

Reviews

[Penny Reid]

The Neanderthal Box Set is still FREE!! But only for this week! You can grab Neanderthal Seeks Human and Neanderthal Marries Human totally free…in all the places.

This 2020 edition has been extended with Scenes from the City and the steamy stuff has been added. 0.o

If you’ve already experienced the awkwardness and joy that is Janie and Quinn, might I recommend spreading the weird word to a book pal in need of Neanderthals.

** LINKS **
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2u2n8GO
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2tm4BFw
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/32XN0Bj
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2VE0ksN
AppleBooks: https://apple.co/3al9SwI
Nook: http://bit.ly/2xaNubr
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3an8v0G
Google Play: http://bit.ly/38egOKQ

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do Not Miss This Opportunity-Binge Read!

Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Neanderthal Marries Human (Knitting in the City, #1.5)

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[⭐ Emerson ⭐]

Free today on Amazon!

[Celestine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this for the sequel, but re-read book one since it had been so long. Always entertaining, Reid puts together quirky characters who find their "one." Janey is a delight.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/26/2020)! 🎁

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞]

kindle freebie 2/29/20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

[Michelle Claypot_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story started my obsession with Penny Reid and her characters. I stumbled across it and have never looked back. Janie is my favourite kind of romance heroine - smart, funny & unapologetically herself. And Quinn - well he's just EVERYTHING!!! Do yourself a favour & grab this one today!

[Shanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the book that wouldn’t quit. I honestly only kept going because I had it on audio, if I had been reading this I would have put it down sooner. Even though the narrator was a bit annoying audio was better to keep the story flowing.

I get that Janie was supposed to be geeky and quirky but she was beyond that. Janie was a robot and an endless fact machine. At times it was cute but it just kept going, and going, and going, and going. Then the endless “He could never like me” and then when she got past that it was “oh I can’t date my boss.” Gah it was just too much! The narrator did nothing for Quinn’s voice he sounded like he was just as bored as I was or half dead I can’t decide. I am glad I never have to hear *smash, smash, smash* again. Just a heads up the book is very PG so if you don’t like sex scenes in a book this one is for you.

Now I may at some point pick up book 2 about her friend Elizabeth just because they have different personalities. I will say even though I didn’t like this I did laugh several times, but it wasn’t enough to make the book outstanding.

[Ivana S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book was ok. Imperfect, problematic at times, but mostly sweet and entertaining. 3 stars

Second book unnecessary. Janie's ramblings quickly went from cute to outright annoying and killed any interest I had for this couple. 0 stars

I couldn't get through the additional scenes, dnf-ed each after only a few sentences :( On the plus side, supporting characters intrigued me enough to maybe pick up the next book sometime in the future.

[Pelusa Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this book years ago, so when I saw this in my books I remembered I had only read the first book so I wanted to know what happened with Janie and Quinn, I am nosy like that not that I was crazy about the book. So I read it and I got what I needed but I remembered that this book did not make me a Penny Reid fan, I also had read another book of hers that again just didn't make me become a fan, so maybe it is me but I really do not need to read anymore of her books.

[Janey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im part chuffed to bits, part bloody annoyed!!, why?, cause I'm a complete idiot!, I read the first book in this series ages ago, I liked it, but that was it, then I got recommended the rest of the series much later so I read them and totally fell in love, however I missed a book out, Neanderthal marries human, so when this box-set became available I jumped at the chance to re-read and then jump straight into NMH. In my defence it's all Quinn's fault, he's an alpha über rich moody guy and I just couldn't warm to him but in this book I get him now!, his history, his relationship with his parents and his sister, the camaraderie he has with Dan, Dan the security man (love him) was wonderful. funny in parts and a joy to read. But ultimately it's his undying, heart melting gives you the warm and fuzzies love he has for his Janie that was the clincher for me, Quinn your alright..., also I will say Janie friends, Sandra, Elizabeth, Ashley, Kat, Marie and Fiona, or I should say family because that's what they are are a hilarious, big hearted and a totally awesome bunch and are pretty nifty with the knitting needles too. I'm just happy i have gotten the opportunity to read about them and cannot wait to read more in the future. Ms Penny you done good.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

NEANDERTHAL SEEKS HUMAN:
Good grief this book was laugh out loud funny, like I almost pi**ed myself so many times, "tell me about this seamless intercourse." His eyes traveled slowly downward, then, in the same leisurely pace, moved up to mine again." Quinn there's no other way to say this but I love how you try to understand Janie, "the other time? You've been drunk two times?" His frowned eased, and he blinked at me. I noted again that his eyes were very blue, an his chest was very naked." Janie that girl has no filter which made for an interesting storyline:
"I don't know how much good magic sperm would do me without a snake-haired girl to put it in."
Quinn reached for his own water and took a gulp, but he choked when I said, "You could use me!" He abruptly set his drink down, sat back on his heels, and picked up a napkin; his eyes were wide as he coughed. I reached over and patted his back soothingly."
With Janie around Quinn is totally thinking of rearranging his schedule, "I need to come into the office more often." I could hear the playfulness behind his words, but I didn't smile. My palms itched to touch his bare skin, and my heart fluttered in my chest." I can't wait to dive in to the sequel.

NEANDERTHAL MARRIES HUMAN:
Second time around with Quinn and Janie is so much better than the first, Janie is still the same quirky girl that is brutally honest that we know and love, "you haven't made any attempt to take off my clothes. In fact, you haven't even reached under my skirt. Based on historical data, this behavior is strange." The reason why this book is better than the first is we get Quinn's perspective on things, "she was no longer effing adorable. She was now sexy as eff. I gritted my teeth, reached down, and gripped the morning stiffness between my legs, glanced at the ring on her finger..." He's the type of person that doesn't like to be disturbed when he's with his woman, "Quinn removed his mouth from my neck just long enough to issue the command, "go away." The next sound I heard - other than my own frenetic breathing - was Donna's shoes scurrying down the aisle back to the galley." A drunk Janie sure is a out of control Janie, "she whispered in my ear, "I want you to talk dirty to me and call me Kitten so I can scratch your back and eat your...." I do love this series.

FRIENDS WITHOUT BENEFITS:
Nico is really demanding, "you are the doctor I want." He grew adamant, louder, like someone who was used to getting his way by raising his voice." Nico he has brass balls, "right. Why would you? You've already seen everything up close." Luckily Elizabeth has a good friend, Sandra she puts things in perspective, "no, girl it is like that. It's exactly like that. I thought he was going to grab you by the hair and drag you away caveman style. Instead he man-handled you, just a little, and it was hot. I bet if we go to his table he'll-" Nico after all these years he does care about Elizabeth, "well...from now on consider my privacy your privacy. You can call me anytime, okay? In fact, call me every day." I liked this book and I can't wait for the next one in the series

[Cely · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I enjoyed the first book. Even though Janie (the main character) is oblivious to the point of annoying..... the 2nd book dragged a lot... and I mean a lot. While listening I fell asleep and woke up to Janie still talking about random facts...I think the 2nd book could have been cut in half and or put the outcome of the story with a few details at the end of the first book. Please understand I think overall it wasn’t bad just wasn’t the best. Being this is the first time i listened to one of the author’s books, I am not sure I want to continue. I love the main character’s friends presented in books and I really want to continue but am skeptic if I am going to waste over 10 hours of listening to book that drags too much...I will see it’s a maybe to continue....

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

IT IS FREE NOW (18.03.2020)

3.5 and I absolutely adore Janie. I want to be like Janie when I grown up. And I want my very own Batman too, it won't hurt.

[Steffi De Ceuster ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed them separately so instead of putting it all separately I'm going to put my 2 review links here.

Book 1 :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Book 2:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Karrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to think with all of Janie's trivial information that she would say at random times or maybe it's not so random. Janie grew on me and some of the stuff she would tell to Quinn would amuse me. These two as a couple is just no words. They are perfect for each other.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a five star story with a caveat. The vocabulary is good however the speech patterns are somewhat contrived (I.e. not natural usage). In addition so.e of the meanings while close are not exact.

With that exception, I habe found a new favorite author, both for listening and reading.

[Beanimous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the original book “Neanderthal seeks human” years ago, I reread and reread several times over the years, and it has remained to be my all time favourite.

This box set included many stories and snippets of Janie and Quinn’s life after book 1. It is enjoyable and so much fun, love, emotions and laughters. I shed tears of joy and tears of sympathy while reading this book, and I cried because how perfect this book is.

I absolutely love it.

[Mareike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot not finish a book, apparently, but this was a close call. Our heroine is terribly annoying. It helps to read her as on the autism spectrum but even with that in mind, she is a lot, and not really in an entertaining way. Our hero is terribly controlling, and not in a good way, and spends about 97% of his time glaring at people. He also likes to call multiple other women crazy for no specified reason, with the exception of our crazy protagonist. There’s also a crime plot, if you want to call it that, that somehow manages to be both absurd and boring at the same time. The second book dials all of the irritating qualities of the first one up to 11 and is way too long overall.
But admittedly, buried between all this, are some lovely moments as well. I liked most of the scenes with the knitting group - as long as they didn’t involve the crime plot or an Elvis impersonator.

[mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

not as good as the first book. Also, filled with typos, which was super distracting. Not sure if I'll read more in the series.

[Kamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love rereading Janie's stories.

[Alissa Shirah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute story, but way too sexually explicit.

[Reading Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am late to the Penny Reid game despite the fact that I have owned quite a few of her books for years! So far I am loving her work. Neanderthal Seeks Human is truly excellent contemporary romance. The characters are all living their best lives in Chicago or are they? Janie has a degree in architecture but has been working in accounting for a few years. She's brilliant but also kind of awkward in an adorable way. Janie is having the worst week ever. She's found out that her long time boyfriend has been cheating on her. She just lost her job in a downsize. She has no place to live since she was living with said boyfriend and worst of all her dream guy from security has to escort her out of the building! Quinn Sullivan is the security guy but he's also so much more. He's had his eye on Janie but she never noticed. When Quinn assists Janie in getting a new job with his company, hilarity ensues! Janie's knitting friends are amazing. These are the type of friends that every girl needs. I loved this story but my least favorite part was that the majority of it was written from single POV from Janie's perspective. I really wanted to know more about what was going on in Quinn's head. I'm moving on to the next book in the series because they're so much fun. Next up is Neanderthal Marries Human. Neanderthal Marries Human finally gives the reader the knowledge of what's going on in Quinn Sullivan's head! If you haven't read Neanderthal Seeks Human, go back and read it. You won't understand the majority of this book or its characters. Janie Morris has agreed to marry Quinn even though she's arguing with herself about it. Have they known each other long enough? Will they be able to weather the bad times that inevitably come with marriage and life in general? Is Quinn really going to be happy leaving his "no strings" lifestyle behind and staying in a committed relationship? Will Janie be "enough" or will her "weirdness" become too much for him in the long run? So many questions! I loved this book. I love the characters and the supporting characters. It was fresh, fun and everything that I look for in a contemporary rom com. I'm so happy that it was told from dual POV and I look forward to reading the other knitting ladies stories as well.

[Noemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third re-read of Penny Reid's Neanderthal Seeks Human. I saw on an Instagram post that it was available on Kindle Unlimited, so I took advantage of the occasion (my copy is somewhere dispersed in the mess that is my room).

It still made me laugh like the first time I read it, and I could't put it down until I got to the last page.

Janie is funny AF. She doesn't know how to interact with the eye-candy Quinn, and she really doesn't see the obvious, i.e. noticing that Quinn is her boss and not a security guard like she thought for half of the book.
Quinn is a hottie who started his own security company after losing his cop brother to a criminal whom Quinn helped to protect. He has a lot of guilt toward it, and now he tries to make up for it.
Janie's family history isn't that great either. Both of her sisters are criminally inclined, and her mother used to leave and hang out with her lovers until she had an accident and died. Her father is non-existent — he sends an email once a month.

Basically she is alone. But do not despair! She has her knitting group by her side. Women who love to talk sex and hang out. And are mean with a knitting needle. If you try and attack one of them, you might get stabbed in your shoulder, get your head hit with a bottle and your mouth stuffed with valuable yarn. As you can see, her friends have her back and make up for loneliness.

Quinn and Janie's love story develops throughout all the book, and with its highs and lows, the two end up understanding each other and finding love (and also leaving any criminal activity behind!)

This was such an enjoyable reading, that I'd recommend this book to any one who loves a good chick-lit, laughing out loud and oblivious heroine who isn't scared to let her friends stab you with a needle when the situation asks for it ;)

[Kaygen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated as a set (audiobook format), this gets 3 stars. The first book was cute and fun--closer to a 4. I appreciated Janie's quirky personality--her penchant for facts and spewing random trivia whenever faced with a tense or uncomfortable situation--and that she made no apologies for it. Quinn was the strong, silent, hot, brooding type. They made a delicious couple. But despite the entertainment quality of the couple, they aren't able to carry a novel without a solid plot. The first book did a decent job of establishing a story and keeping us interested in the arc. The second book fell entirely flat. I would rate it a 1 or 2 star. It read like a series of outtakes to showcase Janie's oddball personality, which got old VERY fast. Then it concludes with clouds of sentimentality. It was just a long and boring epilogue to book 1 and a vehicle to introduce spin-offs for each character. Best just to stick with book 1. If you're interested in more, read the last few chapters (wedding week onward) in book 1.5 and leave it at that.

Sebastian York is wonderful as a narrator in the second book (1.5) but Jennifer Grace, while OK in the first, drove me nuts in the second. I had to listen at 1.5 or 1.75 speed to get through her slow, plodding, robotic narration. Some of it is the writing (since Janie is so cerebral) but the voice talent should bring a character to life, not kill it.

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was two full-length books and several short stories bound in one. The first book was a solid four stars. Janie was a great, non-typical heroine and Quinn a wonderful hero with endless patience with her quirks. It took a bit too long for her to realise who he really is, but other than that, the plot went on smoothly. There was a large collection of side-characters that remained a bit unused--Steve definitely comes to mind--and the knitting ladies were difficult to tell apart, but since they all have their own books, that'll change later.

The second book was a fun addition, a story of Janie and Quinn getting married. It wasn't about wedding planning; it was about love and family and forgiveness. It was a tad long for a side-story, and even though Quinn's POV chapters were a great addition, I still would've given it only three stars.

The short stories were nice. There was one about their honeymoon and two about a bit later in their marriage about Janie getting pregnant. It was great to see that marriage hasn't changed them ... much.

The book also contains sneak peeks to a couple of other books by the author, so there's a lot of content in this bundle. If you're not familiar with the author's work, this is a good place to start.

[Simone Mcphail · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is a spoiler anyway?

I want to scream from the rooftop, all of the romantic, gooey heart, swooney, love heart eyes parts of this book to anyone who will listen. Bring a snack, some fluids for hydration and maybe a blanket and comfy pillow. You're going to want to get comfortable because it will take a while.

I could not love Janie and Quinn more. Or I could, if I had more Quinn POVs, but that doesnt deteact my love for the book, I'm merely pointing out I think it could have been enhanced by the smallest of margins.

What I would like to know is this. Janies random facts. Known by the author or researched? There was alot. I found them both interesting and wonderfully quirky, I found Janie to be brave, fearless and unfraid to be who she was and I loved her for it. Like I said, I would have loved to get more of Quinns POV, just so I could understand where he was coming from. He was kind of strong and silent for me (except when he wasn't ) and I loved him for that. I wonder if it was the authors intent to make him so?

All in all I loved these books, I loved these characters, equal amounts of hot and swoon, angst and heartbreak made a perfect combination for a perfect romantic story that will lead me to read the rest of the Knitting group stories.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neanderthal Seeks Human Box Set (Knitting in the City #1-1.5) was a great read by Penny Reid. This box set consists of; Neanderthal Seeks Human, and Neanderthal Marries Human. Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City #1) was a great read by Penny Reid. Janie Morris is incapable of engaging in conversations without volunteering too much trivial information. There is no one who unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan. Although she is in a knitting group, she doesn't know how to knit. She lost her boyfriend, apartment and job all in the same day. Unfortunately Quinn Sullivan has witnessed it all and keeps turning up at every turn. She never expected Quinn to make her an offer that she can't refuse. Neanderthal Marries Human (Knitting in the City #1.5) was another great read by Penny Reid. Quinn Sullivan is madly in love with Janie Morris. He will do anything, including play dirty, to get what he wants. He also doesn't know how to knit. He and Janie have been dating for just five months but he is already ready to propose marriage. Janie tosses a wrench in his endeavors and challenges him to prove his devotion but going through all the matrimonial motions. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

[VoraciousReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neanderthal Seeks Human – 3 stars
1. I’m assuming from the way that the author wrote Janie’s character, that she was supposed to be on the spectrum but some of the encounters and conversations between her and Quinn were just ridiculous. For example, the time that Quinn came to her hotel room, and she put on multiple layers of clothing and her coat and told him that she was going to play strip poker was just painful to read.
2. Quinn knew that Jon, Janie’s ex, had gotten her her previous job. Quinn knew that Jon had asked his father to fire Janie to force her to be dependent on him. Quinn also knew that there were some similarities in her situation with him since had given her a job and he was her boss. She had asked him multiple times if she was still going to have a job if she didn’t do what he wanted. Yet, he never seemed to understand that his behaviour was sexual harassment.
3. I didn’t like the fact that Quinn and Janie’s first sexual encounter took place when he knew she’d had too much to drink.
4. If Elizabeth was the one who shot the skinhead, why was Quinn the one detained?

Neanderthal Marries Human - 1 star

I liked that this books is dual POV but that was pretty well all that I liked.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neanderthal Seeks Human
I remember reading this and falling in love with the characters the first time around, but I had forgotten just how much fun the book was. Janie is my perfect kind of nerd-girl: she’s socially awkward and somewhat oblivious, but those things make me love her even more. She’s brilliant and refuses to dumb herself down for anyone or anything, making her my absolute hero. Quinn is just something special. He’s always lived his life as a confirmed bachelor and that’s what he’s always believed he would be. But Janie’s presence in his life makes him want to be better than he’s ever been. I want to read about every member of the knitting club.
Neanderthal Marries Human
These two are just so stinking adorable. I’ll admit that Janie frustrated me at first with her insistence on manufactured stress to test their commitment to one another. But after seeing what those stresses showed them, I think she was a lot more brilliant than I gave her credit for. This story was funny, sweet, and hiding some incredible emotional truths. I can’t wait to dig into the rest of the series.