Bound: Forget Me Knot by H.B. Pattskyn

Title: Bound: Forget Me Knot

Author: H.B. Pattskyn

Genre: Contemporary, BDSM

Length: 260 pages

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 24, 2012)

Heat level: Explicit

Heart rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb: Jason Kennly needs to get a closer look when he spots a gray leather collar from across the dealers’ room at a science fiction convention, even if there’s no way he can afford it on his college student budget. After all, looking is free. But then he spots something he wants even more than the collar: leather booth owner Henry Durand, who insists Jason try it on. When Henry asks Jason to be his model at a bondage demo, Jason agrees despite his lack of experience as a sub and ends up spending a no-strings-attached weekend exploring his kinky side with a virtual stranger.

Then the con is over, Jason and Henry go their separate ways, and it’s back to real life. Coming to terms with his identity as a submissive and masochist isn’t easy for Jason. Suddenly he has to face fear, doubt, and a best friend who’ll do anything to get him away from “that creep” and back together with the ex-boyfriend who ignored him. All Jason wants is to be with Henry, but what if that means becoming his slave?

Product link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3238

Reviewer: Heart

Review:  From the first pages of this book I just knew it was perfect for me. I was somewhat skeptical getting into another story about the lifestyle, but H.B. Pattskyn put my fears to rest quickly and I was just thrilled to be able to add another brilliant author to my list of those I should keep an eye on.

I do sound somewhat ominous, don’t I? Well, I guess you just have to meet Jason and Henry first to understand what I mean.

Jason is a student working his way through school with a rough background and an exhausting home life. His only reprieve is the science fiction convention where he came to let loose, enjoy and forget about his trouble, even if only for a little while. He had no idea one stand and a collar would change his life in a heartbeat.

Henry sells custom leather products and looks the role. He oozes masculinity and dominance and Jason all but whimpers at the sight, touch and the first word. Yeah, he’s pretty much smitten, only for a moment he’s not quite sure if it’s the feel of the collar around his neck making him week at the knees or the man fastening it.

A May/December novel with almost twenty year age gap between the characters was rather refreshing for the author’s thoughtful way of putting an inexperienced Jason through his paces and giving Henry a vulnerable side that slips through his dominant personality just in the right places. The sex was phenomenal, super-hot and exciting without it overwhelming the book. Despite the subject, this story had a solid plot that revolved around the characters, their doubts, insecurities and the road they needed to take to be happy.

Of course, things are never easy in life and there had to be at least one insufferable best friend and an ex who doesn’t accept the fact that the relationship is over. There was nothing I didn’t like in this story and can recommend it to everyone who thinks the subject might interest them. The scenes between Jason and Henry are intense as well as explicit which I of course loved, but someone else might not. I would like to include a small cheating tag in there as well, because it does happen and while I didn’t even blink over it for how expected it was for me, others might appreciate knowing it is there.

This is spicy enough to appeal to a lot of readers, but combined with the beautiful writing and exceptional characterization, it’s a book for every fan’s shelf.