Jax Reviews Playing Knotty by Elia Winters

Publisher: Pocket Star
Format Read: ebook
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: March 16, 2015
Buying Links: Amazon*  | Barnes & Noble |
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Bondage meets bookworm in this sizzling erotic romance about a shy bookshop owner who discovers an exciting new side to herself when an old friend opens a bondage workshop in the back of her store!

Emma Green has never been very confident. When Ian Cooper, an old friend, asks to rent out the back room of her bookstore for a bondage workshop, she agrees because she needs the money. She isn’t expecting to participate, and she definitely isn’t expecting to enjoy it. But all of Emma’s expectations fly out the window when she tentatively agrees to be Ian’s bondage model for workshops and exhibitions—and her success in the role upends all previous notions she had about her body and her desirability.

Now, Emma must learn to reconcile these conflicting images of herself while dealing with another conflict: Is Ian just another playboy, or everything she’s been looking for?

Jax'sThoughts:

*fans face*

I enjoyed this one. For so many reasons. First, it's set in my old stomping grounds of Boston, and it integrated the neighborhoods quite well. Second, the characters are utterly relatable. Emma is a woman, with the curves and insecurities that come with the territory. Ian, and his friend, would fit right in with my gamer friends and family. Third, the bondage scenes are so well portrayed. And finally, I love the build up to Emma and Ian finally realizing they both want more than friendship.

This book has just the right combination of reality and steamy scenes to be exactly what I look for in a romance book. I love the trepidation Ian and Emma both have about their growing relationship. One as the more experienced in bondage, worried about how it will be received, the other learning and opening up to new ideas and opportunities.

For those who like books with an element of BDSM, this is pretty low on the D/s spectrum. Ian and Emma aren't exploring power dynamics. He does most of the ties, but she takes her turn too. And in the rest of their lives, they are very much matched. He's not a pushover, but Ian isn't an Alpha man either. It was a nice change of pace to see that.

PROMOTIONAL PRICE OF $1.99 THROUGH 3/28/15
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Playing-Knotty/Elia-Winters/9781476789620