Scan barcode
careliza's review
4.0
Cute, I liked that it was spicy but that I also felt like the characters were regular people with regular lives. It didn’t feel like some dark secret.
witandsin's review
5.0
My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2015/03/review-playing-knotty-by-elia-winters.html
Playing Knotty is sexy, kinky, fast-paced, and a pure joy to read. In Ian, author Elia Winters gives readers a hot, geeky hero who’s seriously talented with rope. Ian’s an accountant who’s also incredibly knowledgeable about rope play. And while he’s sexy as hell, it’s the fact that he’s been head-over-heels for Emma since high school that made me melt. It isn’t easy for Ian to gain Emma’s trust, but he’s patient with her. To Ms. Winters’s credit, Ian’s human and not a saint; he knows he can’t be the one to make Emma change the way she sees herself. And speaking of Emma, she’s a smart, likeable heroine whose insecurities not only make you feel for her, but are relatable. Growing up she had it drilled into her head that any woman who isn’t thin is automatically not desirable. Because of this, she’s developed a warped view of herself and how she has to be around others. I loved watching Emma come into her own over the course of Playing Knotty. It isn’t easy, which adds a sense of realism, but the journey’s definitely worth it.
As a couple, Emma and Ian are red-hot. Ms. Winters’s knowledge of rope play makes both the bondage workshops and the erotic scenes shine. Add in the genuine likeability of both Ian and Emma and you have a winning romance. Even the secondary characters are more than you first expect them to be, which was a wonderful surprise. There’s a lot to love about Playing Knotty – it’s fun, nerdy, seriously hot, and Emma and Ian will have you rooting for them to get their happily ever after. I cannot wait to re-read Playing Knotty and I will definitely be buying up Ms. Winters’s other work!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Playing Knotty is sexy, kinky, fast-paced, and a pure joy to read. In Ian, author Elia Winters gives readers a hot, geeky hero who’s seriously talented with rope. Ian’s an accountant who’s also incredibly knowledgeable about rope play. And while he’s sexy as hell, it’s the fact that he’s been head-over-heels for Emma since high school that made me melt. It isn’t easy for Ian to gain Emma’s trust, but he’s patient with her. To Ms. Winters’s credit, Ian’s human and not a saint; he knows he can’t be the one to make Emma change the way she sees herself. And speaking of Emma, she’s a smart, likeable heroine whose insecurities not only make you feel for her, but are relatable. Growing up she had it drilled into her head that any woman who isn’t thin is automatically not desirable. Because of this, she’s developed a warped view of herself and how she has to be around others. I loved watching Emma come into her own over the course of Playing Knotty. It isn’t easy, which adds a sense of realism, but the journey’s definitely worth it.
As a couple, Emma and Ian are red-hot. Ms. Winters’s knowledge of rope play makes both the bondage workshops and the erotic scenes shine. Add in the genuine likeability of both Ian and Emma and you have a winning romance. Even the secondary characters are more than you first expect them to be, which was a wonderful surprise. There’s a lot to love about Playing Knotty – it’s fun, nerdy, seriously hot, and Emma and Ian will have you rooting for them to get their happily ever after. I cannot wait to re-read Playing Knotty and I will definitely be buying up Ms. Winters’s other work!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
annakr5's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
aliciabooks's review
3.0
SWEETER THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT, BASED ON THE BONDAGE ASPECT - I LIKED THAT IAN AND EMMA HAD HISTORY TOGETHER
colossal's review
4.0
I first read this a couple of years back and I have been devouring Winters stuff since, but I don't like reviewing books that I haven't read recently so I reread it yesterday.
Emma owns and runs a book store with a large back room space. When Ian, an old high school friend, notices it and finds out that the normal location for his rope bondage classes has doubled its charges he proposes renting it for his classes. Emma is intrigued, and when Ian's bondage model gets the flu, she steps in to the role.
So what's going on here is extremely light BDSM (only bondage is featured here). Ian is a long-time rigger and has been long aware of his kink. Emma on the other hand is a complete newbie, but she's wildly turned on by the bondage she's being shown and Ian himself. The actual plot concerns Emma's poor self image and low self-esteem and where these have come from and how she blossoms as she begins to embrace something that she really wants.
It's positive, fun and lacking most of the gender rubbish that's so prevalent in romance books that use BDSM. Highly recommended.
Emma owns and runs a book store with a large back room space. When Ian, an old high school friend, notices it and finds out that the normal location for his rope bondage classes has doubled its charges he proposes renting it for his classes. Emma is intrigued, and when Ian's bondage model gets the flu, she steps in to the role.
So what's going on here is extremely light BDSM (only bondage is featured here). Ian is a long-time rigger and has been long aware of his kink. Emma on the other hand is a complete newbie, but she's wildly turned on by the bondage she's being shown and Ian himself. The actual plot concerns Emma's poor self image and low self-esteem and where these have come from and how she blossoms as she begins to embrace something that she really wants.
It's positive, fun and lacking most of the gender rubbish that's so prevalent in romance books that use BDSM. Highly recommended.
More...