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Vampire Knitting Club #13
Ribbing and Runes
Can a secret runic message lead to murder?
There's a lot happening in Cardinal Woolsey's knitting shop in Oxford. Witches, vampires, a knowing cat, romance and murder. Join Lucy and her undead knitting club as they solve another crime.
There's no violence, sex or bad language, just quirky characters, humor—and murder.
The books can be read on their own, but it's probably more fun to start at book 1 and binge.
There's a lot happening in Cardinal Woolsey's knitting shop in Oxford. Witches, vampires, a knowing cat, romance and murder. Join Lucy and her undead knitting club as they solve another crime.
There's no violence, sex or bad language, just quirky characters, humor—and murder.
The books can be read on their own, but it's probably more fun to start at book 1 and binge.
244 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2021
401 people are currently reading
722 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Warren
357 books1,852 followersNancy Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 novels.
She’s known for writing funny, sexy and suspenseful tales. She’s an avid hiker, animal lover, wine drinker and chocolate fiend. Favorite moments in her career include being featured on the front page of the New York Times, being the answer to a crossword puzzle clue in Canada’s National Post newspaper and being a finalist three times in the Rita awards. She has won the Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine.
Get a free short story when you sign up for Nancy's newsletter at www.NancyWarrenAuthor.com or join Nancy in her private Facebook group to talk about books, knitting, pets & life.
www.facebook.com/groups/NancyWarrenKn...
She’s known for writing funny, sexy and suspenseful tales. She’s an avid hiker, animal lover, wine drinker and chocolate fiend. Favorite moments in her career include being featured on the front page of the New York Times, being the answer to a crossword puzzle clue in Canada’s National Post newspaper and being a finalist three times in the Rita awards. She has won the Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine.
Get a free short story when you sign up for Nancy's newsletter at www.NancyWarrenAuthor.com or join Nancy in her private Facebook group to talk about books, knitting, pets & life.
www.facebook.com/groups/NancyWarrenKn...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
September 6, 2022
Ribbing & Runes feels a bit like an epilogue. There isn't much of a story here but it's an entertaining way to complete the series.
June 4, 2021
Hoping this isn’t truly The End
This was such a great book, with not only Lucy’s parents but also her BFF showing up for her upcoming wedding to Rafe. Naturally there is a suspicious death that occurs and Lucy and crew try to solve that while also making the final touches on the wedding plans. I really hope to see more of these characters. We need a HEA for Violet, Jennifer is now hanging around for a while and maybe she and Lochlan could be a good match…so much more to be done with these characters! Fingers crossed we see them all again!
This was such a great book, with not only Lucy’s parents but also her BFF showing up for her upcoming wedding to Rafe. Naturally there is a suspicious death that occurs and Lucy and crew try to solve that while also making the final touches on the wedding plans. I really hope to see more of these characters. We need a HEA for Violet, Jennifer is now hanging around for a while and maybe she and Lochlan could be a good match…so much more to be done with these characters! Fingers crossed we see them all again!
July 5, 2021
I like this series. I do. That being said... 13 BOOKS AND I ONLY GOT 2 PARAGRAPHS ABOUT THE WEDDING??? Are you KIDDING? I almost gave it 2 stars I was so mad.
Otherwise, it was fine. New characters were brought in. The parents are moving to Oxford to be close to the happy couple. It was okay. I even liked how the "Will she become a vampire?" situation was handled. I'm just bummed because after all this time the wedding was sort of tossed to the side like an afterthought.
Otherwise, it was fine. New characters were brought in. The parents are moving to Oxford to be close to the happy couple. It was okay. I even liked how the "Will she become a vampire?" situation was handled. I'm just bummed because after all this time the wedding was sort of tossed to the side like an afterthought.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2021
Lucy's plate is overflowing with work and wedding planning when her parents show up, her best friend arrives on her doorstep and the witch who created the hex that almost killed her cousin recently crosses her path! Double down on the fun when she discovers that everyone is holding secrets and witch dabbling in hexes is found dead. Can Lucy and her gang of sleuthy vamps unravel the mysteries in time to save the wedding and will she actually make it down the aisle? Once again an excellent addition to the Vampire knitting Club and the audio books still reign supreme with excellent narration to bring an outstanding book more fully to life!
May 14, 2021
Ribbing and Runes is a standalone read with a happy ending. The Vampire Knitting Club is having a wedding. AT LAST. This story has no sexy scenes and no colorful language. It can be read by any age group. Lucy and Rafe are planning a wedding. Lots is happening in Oxford. Lucy has a lot of balls in the air and then to her surprise her parents arrive 2 weeks early. She has never had a lot in common with her parents so she is hoping there won't be any issues. Her mother is anxious to throw Lucy a hen party and Lucy definitely does not want one. Lucy receives a wedding gift at Rafe's house so they open it together. It is not a good gift. And now Lucy has another problem on her hands.
It seems an evil witch is on the scene and she is trying to kill Lucy. With everything that is going on, she just doesn't have time to deal with this. Then her best friend from the states also shows up two weeks early. She moves in with Lucy. They have been best friends since grade 1, and now Lucy finds out a big secret she has been hiding. It will only bring the girls closer together. Maybe.
This story has a lot going on; there is the evil witch, something is bugging Violet, Jennifer has a secret, Rafe has become the owner of a witch's book with a spellbound on it, just lots and lots of things going on. I think this is the best story so far. It is definitely one you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it. Fun, entertaining reading.
I was not paid for this review. I am not a writer nor do I know one. I am not kin to this author. I am a reader and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. 5/13/2021
It seems an evil witch is on the scene and she is trying to kill Lucy. With everything that is going on, she just doesn't have time to deal with this. Then her best friend from the states also shows up two weeks early. She moves in with Lucy. They have been best friends since grade 1, and now Lucy finds out a big secret she has been hiding. It will only bring the girls closer together. Maybe.
This story has a lot going on; there is the evil witch, something is bugging Violet, Jennifer has a secret, Rafe has become the owner of a witch's book with a spellbound on it, just lots and lots of things going on. I think this is the best story so far. It is definitely one you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it. Fun, entertaining reading.
I was not paid for this review. I am not a writer nor do I know one. I am not kin to this author. I am a reader and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. 5/13/2021
June 28, 2024
Lucy spent much of this book whining and that just got old. This was probably my least favorite of the whole series.
May 18, 2021
"Planning a wedding was all very well, but I’d quite like to survive long enough to actually walk down the aisle, especially now I had that beautiful dress."
Yes, there will be a wedding and leave it to Lucy and the family and the Vampire Knitting Club to stumble on another mystery right smack in the middle of the preparations.
And how, when her parents arrive earlier than expected will she keep Gran and Mom from "running into" each other? Leave to to Rafe to help with that one. A wedding dress? The knitting club will take of that. But when a strange package arrives things get weird...and people die.
Who wants to poison Lucy? All Sylvia wanted to do was give her a choice to be with Rafe longer than she figured she'd have. Will she take that step into the future or a different path. Leave it to Nancy Warren to write a fresh take on vampires that always seems fresh and wonderful as she knits a few more rows on this lovely and lively series. Highly Recommended 5/5
[Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]
Yes, there will be a wedding and leave it to Lucy and the family and the Vampire Knitting Club to stumble on another mystery right smack in the middle of the preparations.
And how, when her parents arrive earlier than expected will she keep Gran and Mom from "running into" each other? Leave to to Rafe to help with that one. A wedding dress? The knitting club will take of that. But when a strange package arrives things get weird...and people die.
Who wants to poison Lucy? All Sylvia wanted to do was give her a choice to be with Rafe longer than she figured she'd have. Will she take that step into the future or a different path. Leave it to Nancy Warren to write a fresh take on vampires that always seems fresh and wonderful as she knits a few more rows on this lovely and lively series. Highly Recommended 5/5
[Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]
March 26, 2023
So Good! This wonderful little book was the pay off for the entire series and had wonderful callbacks and cameos from previous adventures. The whole series manages to be clever, funny and exciting while having a relaxing sense that it'll all be alright in the end. Exactly what I needed.
I loved this series and I strongly suspect that this is the last book in the series, but I'd love to be proved wrong!
Update: I was proved wrong! There is anther book called Mosaics and Magic!
I loved this series and I strongly suspect that this is the last book in the series, but I'd love to be proved wrong!
Update: I was proved wrong! There is anther book called Mosaics and Magic!
June 23, 2021
Let down
I hate to write this, but these last couple of books have been a let down…. The plot feels rushed and the mystery, though often predictable, was just lazy. If there is a 14th book, please, please bring back the enjoyable character development of the early books of this series.
I hate to write this, but these last couple of books have been a let down…. The plot feels rushed and the mystery, though often predictable, was just lazy. If there is a 14th book, please, please bring back the enjoyable character development of the early books of this series.
December 1, 2022
I'm a little conflicted about how to rate this story. I don't love reading about weddings, and this entry was all about the big day. But I did enjoy the interactions of magical and non-magical people and seeing characters I enjoy - Like Mary and William - have a part in the story. Plus, the knitting club played a big role and I like that. The mystery felt secondary to me. Nothing actually happened until half way through, and though there were clues and other suspects, I thought it was quite clear who had done it and why.
I'll also add that I dislike the emphasis on who is young and beautiful and who isn't. And I still see no reason why Rafe should be so crazy about Lucy, other than she looks like his dearly loved ex-wife, and may in fact be a descendent of hers. I really wish if the author wanted to make such a big deal about it she's given them an actual relationship, something in common for them to share. As it is the relationship feels very unbalanced and unrealistic to me. (Lucy - He's handsome and super rich! Rafe - She looks like my dead wife and they're both witches! Otherwise - nothing.) So, though I quite enjoyed listening to this story, I found myself feeling like the mystery interrupted the flow of events, and I'm still uncomfortable with the MCs marriage.
I'll also add that I dislike the emphasis on who is young and beautiful and who isn't. And I still see no reason why Rafe should be so crazy about Lucy, other than she looks like his dearly loved ex-wife, and may in fact be a descendent of hers. I really wish if the author wanted to make such a big deal about it she's given them an actual relationship, something in common for them to share. As it is the relationship feels very unbalanced and unrealistic to me. (Lucy - He's handsome and super rich! Rafe - She looks like my dead wife and they're both witches! Otherwise - nothing.) So, though I quite enjoyed listening to this story, I found myself feeling like the mystery interrupted the flow of events, and I'm still uncomfortable with the MCs marriage.
June 13, 2022
2022 bk 178. Another joyful addition to the Vampire Knitting Club. It is 2 weeks before the wedding and what is our witch up to? All of those last minute details, of course. Decisions have been made and then guests begin appearing, earlier than expected. All sorts of fun moments occur as Lucy deals with a jealous bridesmaid, a mother wanting things done her way, keeping her grandmother and mother apart, enjoys Miri's and Jen's visits, and tries to find time alone with Rafe. The mystery isn't as intense, but the focus is on the major changes coming to their lives. A fun read!
May 27, 2021
The next instalment in the story of Lucy and Rafe, great as usual. The only trouble with reading this as soon as it comes out is the long wait until the next one!
June 20, 2022
Fun series, though I think I'll spread the next one out more.
August 20, 2025
Fun as always
Always enjoy the books. The series is entertaining and cute. A good way to reset and relax. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Always enjoy the books. The series is entertaining and cute. A good way to reset and relax. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
March 31, 2023
Warren referred another of her books. The great witches baking show. I may read that at some point.
December 6, 2021
After over a dozen books, this is the only one that hasn’t received a five star rating from me. While it was great to revisit this world and meet some new characters, I was frustrated that the wedding, after all that preparation, only received a brief mention at the end of the story, as though it was an afterthought hastily scribbled in the margins. I mean, at least describe Raffe’s reaction to seeing Lucy in such a lovely wedding dress, if nothing else.
I did like the addition of Jennifer to the cast and hope to see her again. I also thought the issue of eternal youth was well-done, with the choice of choosing between alchemy or vampirism hovering over the story.
I just wish we’d heard more about that silly wedding. Even just a mention of the cake would have been nice.
I did like the addition of Jennifer to the cast and hope to see her again. I also thought the issue of eternal youth was well-done, with the choice of choosing between alchemy or vampirism hovering over the story.
I just wish we’d heard more about that silly wedding. Even just a mention of the cake would have been nice.
August 29, 2023
Lucy's parents are annoying, well actually just her mom, I really hope they don't stick around. She poses a danger to the rest of the witches around her with her self-denial of being a witch. I'm happy that Lucy and Rafe got married. I really hope she decides to take the elixir of life at some point and stay with him forever. Hopefully this isn't the last of the books. Jennifer has been introduced, still have Violet not telling William how she feels, etc. I was also surprised there was no Ian in this book. As mentioned above I do hope there are more books in this series. I took off a star because I needed way more wedding scenes. I wanted the actual ceremony and reception.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2025
This is maybe more a review of the series than this specific book.
Nancy Warren's Vampire knitting club series is fun and engaging. Her writing is not spectacular- She is no Jane Austin or George Elliot. If I were reading her books from a literary standpoint, I would advise her to "show, not tell" more, and try not to repeat words- for example, (not from the book) saying something like, "The warm weather made me smile with happiness. I happily walked down the path..."
I also don't think the retcons are necessarily deliberate, it just seems like she forgot what she wrote in a previous book. For example, in one of the earlier book, Lucy goes into her attic. In this book, Agnes makes a big deal about her never having been in the attic. The books could definitely benefit from a fact-checker and some more editing. Some of the crimes and the ways they are solved are pretty implausible. Lucy just happens to notice/ stumble on a lot of useful evidence, and there is no reference to this maybe being because she is a witch in the books, which I think would be a good explanation. She also has extraordinarily bad luck in the prevalence of murders she is involved with, which also doesn't have an explanation (as is true in many cozy mysteries, this is not a problem just with this series, so I have kind of just accepted that it is part of the genre). Lucy also tends to put herself in danger to solve a mystery that the police could have solved without her in several of the book.
I am re-listening to the audiobooks in this series, and I had forgotten them enough that I didn't remember who the murderer was in quite a few stories.
That being said, I really enjoy these books. I love the characters (and they are real enough to me that I also dislike some of the characters and become frustrated with them). Do the characters show significant growth and change from the beginning of the series to the later books? Not especially. They meet new people, learn new things, form friendships and fall in love, but they don't have big epiphanies or learn the sort of life lessons that you might expect from a classic coming of age novel.
I do like that the "bad guys" are not always all bad, and there are some ambiguous characters where they might not always be on Lucy's side. There are people who do bad things for at least somewhat understandable reasons, and people who do bad things but also help Lucy.
I appreciate that in this book, Lucy doesn't suddenly know who the murderer is without the reader having any clue how she came to that conclusion: I prefer books where the reader knows the same information as the protagonist, and therefore has a chance at guessing who the murderer is.
I am always a fan of the antics of animals, and I love reading about Lucy's cat Nix. I also like that characters show up across some of the series.
Nancy Warren's Vampire knitting club series is fun and engaging. Her writing is not spectacular- She is no Jane Austin or George Elliot. If I were reading her books from a literary standpoint, I would advise her to "show, not tell" more, and try not to repeat words- for example, (not from the book) saying something like, "The warm weather made me smile with happiness. I happily walked down the path..."
I also don't think the retcons are necessarily deliberate, it just seems like she forgot what she wrote in a previous book. For example, in one of the earlier book, Lucy goes into her attic. In this book, Agnes makes a big deal about her never having been in the attic. The books could definitely benefit from a fact-checker and some more editing. Some of the crimes and the ways they are solved are pretty implausible. Lucy just happens to notice/ stumble on a lot of useful evidence, and there is no reference to this maybe being because she is a witch in the books, which I think would be a good explanation. She also has extraordinarily bad luck in the prevalence of murders she is involved with, which also doesn't have an explanation (as is true in many cozy mysteries, this is not a problem just with this series, so I have kind of just accepted that it is part of the genre). Lucy also tends to put herself in danger to solve a mystery that the police could have solved without her in several of the book.
I am re-listening to the audiobooks in this series, and I had forgotten them enough that I didn't remember who the murderer was in quite a few stories.
That being said, I really enjoy these books. I love the characters (and they are real enough to me that I also dislike some of the characters and become frustrated with them). Do the characters show significant growth and change from the beginning of the series to the later books? Not especially. They meet new people, learn new things, form friendships and fall in love, but they don't have big epiphanies or learn the sort of life lessons that you might expect from a classic coming of age novel.
I do like that the "bad guys" are not always all bad, and there are some ambiguous characters where they might not always be on Lucy's side. There are people who do bad things for at least somewhat understandable reasons, and people who do bad things but also help Lucy.
I appreciate that in this book, Lucy doesn't suddenly know who the murderer is without the reader having any clue how she came to that conclusion: I prefer books where the reader knows the same information as the protagonist, and therefore has a chance at guessing who the murderer is.
I am always a fan of the antics of animals, and I love reading about Lucy's cat Nix. I also like that characters show up across some of the series.
March 27, 2024
4 Stars
The Vampire Knitting Club series by Nancy Warren is another series that has been collecting dust on my TBR for a while now- but I have finally got my act together (well, somewhat lol) and gotten around to reading it. And I am soooo glad I did, as it turned out to be such an unexpectedly fun read.
One of the reasons I love being on Goodreads is seeing all the book reviews and recommendations that everyone does, and then hunting down the ones that catch my eye. This series would probably never have come to my attention if it hadn’t been for my Goodreads friend, Eliza- so thank you Eliza for your recommendation (in the form of your glowing reviews) which gave me the urge to dive in, even though I didn’t get to them right away- it was such a great series to binge. But one book has now turned into a bit of an addiction lol.
This is quite a long series, so I am going to save myself some time by doing one review for the entire series. So here we go…..
The Vampire Knitting Club is a wonderful paranormal cozy mystery series, with vampires, witches, adventure, action, crime & investigation, witty humour, family, friendship, a small-town setting, dramatic developments, magic, suspense, intrigue, fun, a dash of romance, knitting/knitting group, murder/murder mysteries, whodunnit vibes, danger, secrets, a cat familiar, tangled webs, the supernatural, and a slew of wonderfully quirky characters.
To condense things for the sake of this review, Lucy Swift ‘inherits’ her grandmother’s knitting shop when her grandmother dies…. only grandma is not dead, but is definitely undead. That’s not all she discovers…. so let the adventures begin…
“ …. I run a knitting shop and I can’t knit. I’m a beginning witch who can’t always control her cat, never mind her magic….. Oh, and for some reason, I keep getting involved in murder investigations. Good thing I have my vampire knitters to help sniff out clues.
I really recommend this book/series – especially for those who love a great paranormal cozy mystery.
The series contains…
-Tangles and Treason (Prequel)
-The Vampire Knitting Club (Book #1)
-Stitches and Witches (Book #2)
-Crotchet and Cauldrons (Book #3)
-Stockings and Spells (Book #4)
-Purls and Potions (Book #5)
-Fair Isle and Fortunes (Book #6)
-Lace and Lies (Book #7)
-Bobbles and Broomsticks (Book #8)
-Cats Paws and Curses (Book #8.5)
-Popcorn and Poltergeists (Book #9)
-Garters and Gargoyles (Book #10)
-Diamonds and Daggers (Book #11)
-Herringbones and Hexes (Book #12)
-Ribbing and Runes (Book #13)
-Mosaics and Magic (Book #14)
Can’t wait to explore some of Ms. Warren’s other series now.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Nancy Warren!
The Vampire Knitting Club series by Nancy Warren is another series that has been collecting dust on my TBR for a while now- but I have finally got my act together (well, somewhat lol) and gotten around to reading it. And I am soooo glad I did, as it turned out to be such an unexpectedly fun read.
One of the reasons I love being on Goodreads is seeing all the book reviews and recommendations that everyone does, and then hunting down the ones that catch my eye. This series would probably never have come to my attention if it hadn’t been for my Goodreads friend, Eliza- so thank you Eliza for your recommendation (in the form of your glowing reviews) which gave me the urge to dive in, even though I didn’t get to them right away- it was such a great series to binge. But one book has now turned into a bit of an addiction lol.
This is quite a long series, so I am going to save myself some time by doing one review for the entire series. So here we go…..
The Vampire Knitting Club is a wonderful paranormal cozy mystery series, with vampires, witches, adventure, action, crime & investigation, witty humour, family, friendship, a small-town setting, dramatic developments, magic, suspense, intrigue, fun, a dash of romance, knitting/knitting group, murder/murder mysteries, whodunnit vibes, danger, secrets, a cat familiar, tangled webs, the supernatural, and a slew of wonderfully quirky characters.
To condense things for the sake of this review, Lucy Swift ‘inherits’ her grandmother’s knitting shop when her grandmother dies…. only grandma is not dead, but is definitely undead. That’s not all she discovers…. so let the adventures begin…
“ …. I run a knitting shop and I can’t knit. I’m a beginning witch who can’t always control her cat, never mind her magic….. Oh, and for some reason, I keep getting involved in murder investigations. Good thing I have my vampire knitters to help sniff out clues.
I really recommend this book/series – especially for those who love a great paranormal cozy mystery.
The series contains…
-Tangles and Treason (Prequel)
-The Vampire Knitting Club (Book #1)
-Stitches and Witches (Book #2)
-Crotchet and Cauldrons (Book #3)
-Stockings and Spells (Book #4)
-Purls and Potions (Book #5)
-Fair Isle and Fortunes (Book #6)
-Lace and Lies (Book #7)
-Bobbles and Broomsticks (Book #8)
-Cats Paws and Curses (Book #8.5)
-Popcorn and Poltergeists (Book #9)
-Garters and Gargoyles (Book #10)
-Diamonds and Daggers (Book #11)
-Herringbones and Hexes (Book #12)
-Ribbing and Runes (Book #13)
-Mosaics and Magic (Book #14)
Can’t wait to explore some of Ms. Warren’s other series now.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Nancy Warren!
October 21, 2024
Gonna use this review to review my experience with this entire series as a whole, since this book feels like a pretty good conclusion (even though the author continues this series, which at this point feels like milking it.) All in all, it was okay, the characters were fun and the mysteries were interesting enough to never be predictable, however the lack of forward progression drove me a little batshit crazy at times. Especially reading the end of book #12, when finally after 10 (!!!) books of beating around the bush This lack of forward motion is present in the whole series, Lucy continues to reiterate how awful she is at knitting in every book, and seems to put very little effort into getting better. The running joke of a knitting shop owner who can't knit is getting old fast. I think my main problem from really liking these books is Lucy's character herself. Every other character seems to grow and develop throughout these books, they feel living and real, they form relationships and they change as we get to know them better. Lucy however, never seems to really go anywhere at all. She never puts any effort for anything, she never puts any effort into becoming a better witch, or a better shop owner, or a better knitter, or really anything. Lucy has absolutely no personal drive, no progress, no forward motion. She feels stagnant and boring. She is a walking plot device whose sole purpose is to conveniently be dragged into any murder that happens. I think if Lucy was less boring of a protagonist, I would've really loved this series, but with the protagonist being as bland as cardboard, this whole series was just okay.
June 1, 2021
𝑹𝒊𝒃𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒔, Book #13, Vampire Knitting Club
by Nancy Warren
Another fun read from Nancy Warren. I've enjoyed this series, which I've followed from Book #1. I've enjoyed watching the characters develop, the relationships develop, and the newsletters from the author. I look forward to seeing where the author takes the characters from here.
I suppose I should say "SPOILERS AHEAD," as I've been told that including information found in the first line of the author's blurb on Amazon and Goodreads: As Lucy and Rafe plan their wedding... in my What I'm Reading Now post on Facebook was a spoiler. Obviously not the best kept plot secret to anyone who has read any of the books. And I'm steadfast in my belief that the statement is/was not a Spoiler, so -- you know -- read ahead at your own risk.
As usual, there was lots going on, a fun plot, great pacing, excellent editing and proofing, and no cliffhanger ending. Additionally, the reader gets a bonus in learning more about Lucy's best friend from Boston, her parents, and we get to see Lochlan, from the Vampire Reading Club series, again.
Obviously, in this novel, there is a lot going on that does surround the wedding, although Warren stays true to the idea that the series is a mystery and the wedding has little to do with the mystery, although it is connected to mysteries in former novels in the series, and, as such, to many of the recurring characters. As usual, it seems to fall to Lucy and her undead gang to ferret out the truth and see the true villain brought to justice. In fact, even though a lot of the goings on have to do with wedding planning and tradition, the wedding itself was kind of a downer for me, as all it got in way of description of the actual ceremony was the last page or so of the novel. I had anticipated a grand description of the venue, the ceremony, the reception, etc. Perhaps that is coming in the next book, as the book ends with Lucy starting down the aisle.
Now we wait for the next in the series to come out!!
by Nancy Warren
Another fun read from Nancy Warren. I've enjoyed this series, which I've followed from Book #1. I've enjoyed watching the characters develop, the relationships develop, and the newsletters from the author. I look forward to seeing where the author takes the characters from here.
I suppose I should say "SPOILERS AHEAD," as I've been told that including information found in the first line of the author's blurb on Amazon and Goodreads: As Lucy and Rafe plan their wedding... in my What I'm Reading Now post on Facebook was a spoiler. Obviously not the best kept plot secret to anyone who has read any of the books. And I'm steadfast in my belief that the statement is/was not a Spoiler, so -- you know -- read ahead at your own risk.
As usual, there was lots going on, a fun plot, great pacing, excellent editing and proofing, and no cliffhanger ending. Additionally, the reader gets a bonus in learning more about Lucy's best friend from Boston, her parents, and we get to see Lochlan, from the Vampire Reading Club series, again.
Obviously, in this novel, there is a lot going on that does surround the wedding, although Warren stays true to the idea that the series is a mystery and the wedding has little to do with the mystery, although it is connected to mysteries in former novels in the series, and, as such, to many of the recurring characters. As usual, it seems to fall to Lucy and her undead gang to ferret out the truth and see the true villain brought to justice. In fact, even though a lot of the goings on have to do with wedding planning and tradition, the wedding itself was kind of a downer for me, as all it got in way of description of the actual ceremony was the last page or so of the novel. I had anticipated a grand description of the venue, the ceremony, the reception, etc. Perhaps that is coming in the next book, as the book ends with Lucy starting down the aisle.
Now we wait for the next in the series to come out!!
May 23, 2021
Lucy, a nearly thirty year old witch who owns a knitting shop, and her fiance', Rafe, a 500+ year old vampire, are finally getting married! Lucy just wants to plan her wedding and enjoy this time in her life. But, of course, things have a way of happening in her life that throw all her plans off.
First of all, her cousin, Violet, is in a perpetually foul mood. Then, her parents arrive early from their archaeological dig in Egypt and her best friend, Jennifer, also decides to make a vacation of her trip to the wedding.
When Lucy meets a witch nicknamed "The Wicked Witch of the West", you know that trouble will follow. This witch happens to be the one who made a hex that nearly killed Violet. But, it appears that Karmen might have found the fountain of youth. Lucy is intrigued and decides to find out more about her discovery, thinking that she might be able to age more gracefully
This is an enjoyable addition to a fun cozy series. Even if you haven't read any of the previous books, this would still be a great read. The book is full of quirky characters (vampires that knit and crochet!), a grandmother who recently "died" and is now a vampire (so she has to stay hidden from her friends and family), and quite a bit of magic. And, who wouldn't love to have friends that can crochet a one of a kind wedding dress for your big day?
This book also introduced a few new characters that I would love to see more in future books. If you are looking for a fun cozy with great characters, give this one a try.
First of all, her cousin, Violet, is in a perpetually foul mood. Then, her parents arrive early from their archaeological dig in Egypt and her best friend, Jennifer, also decides to make a vacation of her trip to the wedding.
When Lucy meets a witch nicknamed "The Wicked Witch of the West", you know that trouble will follow. This witch happens to be the one who made a hex that nearly killed Violet. But, it appears that Karmen might have found the fountain of youth. Lucy is intrigued and decides to find out more about her discovery, thinking that she might be able to age more gracefully
This is an enjoyable addition to a fun cozy series. Even if you haven't read any of the previous books, this would still be a great read. The book is full of quirky characters (vampires that knit and crochet!), a grandmother who recently "died" and is now a vampire (so she has to stay hidden from her friends and family), and quite a bit of magic. And, who wouldn't love to have friends that can crochet a one of a kind wedding dress for your big day?
This book also introduced a few new characters that I would love to see more in future books. If you are looking for a fun cozy with great characters, give this one a try.
May 26, 2021
So, I’m not gonna tell you what this next book Ribbing and Runes is about, because for one you can find it in the summary, but I’m gonna tell you this: This next book, in this absolutely fabulous series is just beyond words! Devoted readers will know, it is the one we have been waiting for!!!
Every time I read the next book in the Vampire Knitting series, I think, this is the best one yet! But apparently I have thought that after every next book in this series! Not only did it make me feel like I wanted more of it, (So in all honesty, yes it is addictive!) but it also never gets dull! I would say on the contrary, it only gets better!
So in my opinion, an author is truly successful in what she does with her series when you can create this sensation for your readers! I don’t know how Nancy Warren does it, and this is not only with the Vampire Knitting series of hers but all the others she wrote, but she is quite successful in writing feel good mysteries you wished you where part of, with characters you wished you knew in real life and at the same time you feel part of by just reading them!
So my advice: You want to read something good, something that will take your mind off of everything and leave you with a relaxed and content feeling? Read Nancy Warren’s books! They are a true delight and pleasure for the cosy mystery reader and be warned, also very addictive!
Every time I read the next book in the Vampire Knitting series, I think, this is the best one yet! But apparently I have thought that after every next book in this series! Not only did it make me feel like I wanted more of it, (So in all honesty, yes it is addictive!) but it also never gets dull! I would say on the contrary, it only gets better!
So in my opinion, an author is truly successful in what she does with her series when you can create this sensation for your readers! I don’t know how Nancy Warren does it, and this is not only with the Vampire Knitting series of hers but all the others she wrote, but she is quite successful in writing feel good mysteries you wished you where part of, with characters you wished you knew in real life and at the same time you feel part of by just reading them!
So my advice: You want to read something good, something that will take your mind off of everything and leave you with a relaxed and content feeling? Read Nancy Warren’s books! They are a true delight and pleasure for the cosy mystery reader and be warned, also very addictive!
Read
May 26, 2021Lucy’s big day is almost here. William is doing the catering, Olivia, the flowers & all the members of the VKC are involved in making her wedding dress from the finest silk crochet thread with ribbings & antique buttons. Her best friend from childhood, Jen, is flying in from the U.S. What can go wrong? Glad you asked. Her parents arrive unexpectedly early from their archeological dig. Hmm, bad news. However, Meri, the 2000 yr. old Egyptian witch Lucy rescued from a mirror is with them. Good news. Mom & an envious Violet are planning a hen party which Lucy doesn’t want. Bad news again, right? While Nan, Sylvia and Lucy are shopping at a market fair in Wallingford, they encounter Karmen, a witch who implies having a recipe for the eternal fountain of youth and sells it in creams, lotions, etc. Possibly, this is a solution to Lucy’s dilemma about her lifespan being much shorter than Rafe’s. Sounds like good news, right? Not when Karmen turns up dead in her house just as Lucy & Rafe go to question her about an anonymous weird & potentially deadly wedding gift Lucy received. Covered in runes, it rings alarm bells. Not sure if this distraction from the wedding whirlwind is a blessing or a curse, Lucy is determined to find justice for the witch despite her bad reputation. Finally, there’s some good news. But you’ll have to read Ribbing and Runes to find out what that is.
May 26, 2021
This is the 13th installment on the Vampire Knitting Club series and Ms. Warren doesn’t disappoint. While you can read this as a standalone it’s better to read the series in order to get more of the back story on the characters and why they have the quirks that they do.
Lucy and Rafe are in the end stages of wedding planning and everyone and their mother (Lucy’s) wants to get involved. Early return home from Lucy’s parents puts a cramp in her being able to meet with Gran and sharing the history behind the wedding gown that the knitting club is making for her. Everything is running smoothly until a mysterious wedding gift that leads them down, you guessed it, the path of another dead body and a mystery to solve. Throw in Lucy’s life long bestie from the states and a mid-life crisis if you will, an unwanted hen party (Lucy doesn’t want it..but mom says otherwise) and throw in Lucy working through being mortal when Rafe is not thoughts ..is there something else witchy she can do to help change that? What options is she facing?
Take a read and find out. No spoilers here…you will have to read and enjoy and form your own conclusions to see if you can figure it out before the end of the book.
There's no violence, sex or bad language, just quirky characters, humor—and murder.
The books can be read on their own, but it's probably more fun to start at book 1
Lucy and Rafe are in the end stages of wedding planning and everyone and their mother (Lucy’s) wants to get involved. Early return home from Lucy’s parents puts a cramp in her being able to meet with Gran and sharing the history behind the wedding gown that the knitting club is making for her. Everything is running smoothly until a mysterious wedding gift that leads them down, you guessed it, the path of another dead body and a mystery to solve. Throw in Lucy’s life long bestie from the states and a mid-life crisis if you will, an unwanted hen party (Lucy doesn’t want it..but mom says otherwise) and throw in Lucy working through being mortal when Rafe is not thoughts ..is there something else witchy she can do to help change that? What options is she facing?
Take a read and find out. No spoilers here…you will have to read and enjoy and form your own conclusions to see if you can figure it out before the end of the book.
There's no violence, sex or bad language, just quirky characters, humor—and murder.
The books can be read on their own, but it's probably more fun to start at book 1
May 13, 2021
Reading this book is like coming home to an old friend. From page one, I knew that I would not stop reading until I reached the end of the book. So, I curled up with a giant cup of hot coffee and read about Lucy getting ready for her wedding!
Ribbing and Runes is the thirteenth book in the Vampire Knitting Club series by Nancy Warren. It can be read as a standalone cozy mystery, but I recommend binge reading the whole series because it is so amazing!
I love how this book brings in characters from some of the other paranormal cozy mystery series by the author! It's so neat seeing how their worlds are intertwined!
This book had everything I could ask for in a cozy mystery: a fascinating murder mystery, witches, vampires, family reunions, wedding prep & a hen party, and lots of heart. This is a fast paced book that kept me on the edge of my seat. As much as I wanted to know who the killer was, I didn't want it to end!
If you enjoy cozy mysteries or anything paranormal, I totally recommend this book! The characters are great and the story is so interesting! This is one of those books you won't be able to put down!
I'm so grateful to Nancy Warren for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Ribbing and Runes is the thirteenth book in the Vampire Knitting Club series by Nancy Warren. It can be read as a standalone cozy mystery, but I recommend binge reading the whole series because it is so amazing!
I love how this book brings in characters from some of the other paranormal cozy mystery series by the author! It's so neat seeing how their worlds are intertwined!
This book had everything I could ask for in a cozy mystery: a fascinating murder mystery, witches, vampires, family reunions, wedding prep & a hen party, and lots of heart. This is a fast paced book that kept me on the edge of my seat. As much as I wanted to know who the killer was, I didn't want it to end!
If you enjoy cozy mysteries or anything paranormal, I totally recommend this book! The characters are great and the story is so interesting! This is one of those books you won't be able to put down!
I'm so grateful to Nancy Warren for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
May 26, 2021
After twelve books of the Vampire Knitting Club Lucy and Rafe may get their happily-ever-after wedding in book thirteen titled Ribbing and Runes by Nancy Warren. However with this being a cozy mystery not a romance it is not a sure thing. If you are a long time fan of this series like me you are looking forward to Lucy’s parents from Egypt being at the wedding as well as friends form Boston. If not the book may read okay as a stand-alone but you owe it to yourself to read the entire series.
Don’t you know it days before the wedding there is a murder involving someone Lucy was using to purchase an item for the bridesmaids. Her cryptic last words leave Lucy and Rafe a murder to solve. As if planning a wedding is not enough to keeps her tremendously busy especially with guests arriving days early. If that is not enough a strange evil wedding gift arrives too. Is someone determined to stop the wedding? Kill Lucy?
A wonderful take wedding stress, family dilemmas, and an unusual one on vampires in general. I wanted an invitation to that wedding too. Thank goodness Nancy Warren gives us a close up personal view of All the happenings.
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Don’t you know it days before the wedding there is a murder involving someone Lucy was using to purchase an item for the bridesmaids. Her cryptic last words leave Lucy and Rafe a murder to solve. As if planning a wedding is not enough to keeps her tremendously busy especially with guests arriving days early. If that is not enough a strange evil wedding gift arrives too. Is someone determined to stop the wedding? Kill Lucy?
A wonderful take wedding stress, family dilemmas, and an unusual one on vampires in general. I wanted an invitation to that wedding too. Thank goodness Nancy Warren gives us a close up personal view of All the happenings.
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 11, 2021
Lucy Swift (not quite 30) and Rafe Crosyer (500-ish) are preparing for their wedding.
Lucy's parents have arrived from Egypt, earlier than expected, along with Pete and Meritamun; her best friend, Jennifer, has come over from Boston; and Lochlan Balfour, a vampire even older than Rafe, will be serving as Rafe's best man. Rafe's majordomo and chef, William Thresher, will be doing the catering. Alice, Jennifer, and Lucy's cousin / sister-witch Violet will be Lucy's bridesmaids. And the Vampire Knitting Club, including Lucy's undead grandmother, are going to crochet her wedding dress.
While shopping for bridesmaids' gifts, Lucy meets Karmen Herrick, the "Wicked Witch of Wallingford," as Gran calls her, a witch / alchemist who seems to have discovered the secret of eternal youth. Lucy orders some face creams for her bridesmaids, but when she and Rafe go back to pick them up, they find Karmen almost dead on the floor of her cottage, all of her youth and beauty now gone. Karmen chokes out two words, "The book," before expiring.
Can Lucy and Rafe discover who killed Karmen in the few short days before their wedding? And is Lucy the killer's next possible victim?
Lucy's parents have arrived from Egypt, earlier than expected, along with Pete and Meritamun; her best friend, Jennifer, has come over from Boston; and Lochlan Balfour, a vampire even older than Rafe, will be serving as Rafe's best man. Rafe's majordomo and chef, William Thresher, will be doing the catering. Alice, Jennifer, and Lucy's cousin / sister-witch Violet will be Lucy's bridesmaids. And the Vampire Knitting Club, including Lucy's undead grandmother, are going to crochet her wedding dress.
While shopping for bridesmaids' gifts, Lucy meets Karmen Herrick, the "Wicked Witch of Wallingford," as Gran calls her, a witch / alchemist who seems to have discovered the secret of eternal youth. Lucy orders some face creams for her bridesmaids, but when she and Rafe go back to pick them up, they find Karmen almost dead on the floor of her cottage, all of her youth and beauty now gone. Karmen chokes out two words, "The book," before expiring.
Can Lucy and Rafe discover who killed Karmen in the few short days before their wedding? And is Lucy the killer's next possible victim?
May 30, 2021
Finally the marriage and a way forward for Lucy
This was a good addition to the series but was wanting more at the end with the wedding of Lucy and Rafe. The actual wedding was very short so felt like the author ran out of space, even though I would have happily read more. The story and characters were good, and the murder was obvious or not? Interesting with the alchemy and having her parents there. Great that her friend Jen was also a witch and I hope she stays, works out what she wants to do and finds some romance as I like her characters and would like to read about her more. Was hoping Voilet’s romance further developed but didn’t quite get there. Looks like Lucy has found away to live a long life, although would still her to become a vampire, while not loosing/weakening her magic. Would be great if she could somehow have children with Rafe (a little bit of magic?) and have twins. Still can’t work out if Margaret Twigg is evil or not. Would like to see a short story from the cats points of view and maybe even have her talking? A good read and addition to the series.
This was a good addition to the series but was wanting more at the end with the wedding of Lucy and Rafe. The actual wedding was very short so felt like the author ran out of space, even though I would have happily read more. The story and characters were good, and the murder was obvious or not? Interesting with the alchemy and having her parents there. Great that her friend Jen was also a witch and I hope she stays, works out what she wants to do and finds some romance as I like her characters and would like to read about her more. Was hoping Voilet’s romance further developed but didn’t quite get there. Looks like Lucy has found away to live a long life, although would still her to become a vampire, while not loosing/weakening her magic. Would be great if she could somehow have children with Rafe (a little bit of magic?) and have twins. Still can’t work out if Margaret Twigg is evil or not. Would like to see a short story from the cats points of view and maybe even have her talking? A good read and addition to the series.
July 2, 2024
Finally the big day!
Of course there's weirdness and complications, when Lucy is sent a deadly present, and the vampires must investigate!
Not a lot of time was spent on the mystery on this one, tbh, and I guessed the who of the whodunit almost immediately... but, honestly, I didn't even care that much, because the bigger focus of this story is the wedding prep, which was fun. It's nice to see Lucy just chill with her g/f's for awhile before her big day.
Though her parents super annoyed me, and I was glad that the
Anyway - my only disappointment is I'd've liked more wedding festivities. Like, we saw a lot about the prep, and then it was just like, "and then they were married. The End." Bleh.
Annoyingly - and this is an unrelated side point - the next book in the series is only on Audible Premium, which means I need to pay more money, and I'm annoyed about that... but that's not at all involved in my rating or anything. I just wanted to gripe about it, because Amazon sucks. ^_^
Of course there's weirdness and complications, when Lucy is sent a deadly present, and the vampires must investigate!
Not a lot of time was spent on the mystery on this one, tbh, and I guessed the who of the whodunit almost immediately... but, honestly, I didn't even care that much, because the bigger focus of this story is the wedding prep, which was fun. It's nice to see Lucy just chill with her g/f's for awhile before her big day.
Though her parents super annoyed me, and I was glad that the
Anyway - my only disappointment is I'd've liked more wedding festivities. Like, we saw a lot about the prep, and then it was just like, "and then they were married. The End." Bleh.
Annoyingly - and this is an unrelated side point - the next book in the series is only on Audible Premium, which means I need to pay more money, and I'm annoyed about that... but that's not at all involved in my rating or anything. I just wanted to gripe about it, because Amazon sucks. ^_^
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