Victoria took a job as a barista at a coffee shop. There was only one other female on the roster but her boss Larry didn’t seem like a creep when he hired her. Victoria had really needed the job - five weeks earlier she did not know how she would make the next months rent and not wipe out her savings. A friend from R I S Dhad a tiny furnished room and she could rent it on her present pay. She couldn’t take anymore family support as she had heard her father saying she was draining his money while they waited for her to find a husband at school. So then Victoria quit art school with only a semester to go. But the problem was her parents thought she could never think for herself. They just did it for her. Victoria was done with that happening. Then Larry made a made a pass at her and Victoria quit. She had twelve hundred in the bank and owed her landlord five hundred for letting her out of her lease. The her mom asked why she had withdrawn from school and she was going to come there. Then Victoria called her and said she would be home in a couple of days. Ethan had everything he loved best in one place. Logan- ethan’s older brother said “ let me get this right , you are going to build a two hundred- twenty- square foot RV “ which Ethan said “ little house” then Logan added “ on a trailer bed and live on it. In the middle of Tornado Alley”. Then Ethan shrugged and said” Technically we are south of Tornado Alley and also if we get a warning I can come down to the main house or find the nearest safe structure if I am out on the road which is part of the point”. Ethan had wanted a tiny house ever since he’d first of them nearly a decade earlier as an undergraduate. Part of what Ethan liked was the mobility. Ethan was part owner of the ranch with his brother Logan and cousin Chet. Ethan helped his brother out at the ranch but the main money maker was once a month - an event called Giddyup- a kink mecca. Now it had grown so much visitors came from most states and a lot of countries also.
I didn’t really enjoy this book and didn’t really finish it did a lot of skimming. I just didn’t enjoy this. This wasn’t for me but I am sure there are other out there that will really enjoy this.

Rope 'Em in the second novel in the Giddyup series, but it's the first book in the series that I've read and it's also the first time I've read anything by this author. Rope 'Em was quite a surprise on many levels and it gets a 4-star rating from this reviewer.

Victoria, our heroine, is a talented yet extremely privileged student in her last year at the Rhode Island School of Design, referred to only as RISD in the book, which took me a while to decipher. When she accidentally overhears her father calling her a "black hole" into which his money disappears, and then goes on to overhear him say that he's disappointed in her because he really only sent her to college to catch a rich husband, just as her older sister, Alexandra, had done, Victoria makes some sudden and rash decisions.

Not realizing that she hasn't any marketable skills in her chosen field, textile design, Victoria drops out of college, cuts up her credit cards, and eventually finds a job as a barista-in-training at a small coffee shop. Unfortunately, when her creepy boss demands sexual favors if she wants to keep her job, she quits, sells almost everything she owns, piles what's left into the BMW her father pays for, and heads back to her hometown in Dallas, TX, first stopping at her sister's home. Alexandra, like her parents, also considers Victoria somewhat of a screw-up and an underachiever, and she too makes a lot of decisions for her sister, quickly finding her a job and temporary accommodations working at the Hilltop Guest Ranch.

Annoyed that her family still controls her, but not wanting to return to her parents home to deal with their disappoint in her, Victoria takes the job, which is where she meets Ethan, who shares ownership of the ranch, is a licensed veterinarian (all he's ever wanted to be) and is considering taking over the the practice belonging to the town's aging vet, but he's first in the process of building himself a mobile tiny house on ranch property. He's no longer sure he wants to stay in the small town of Bolero, TX, instead, he's hoping to pursue his side business--making and hand-dying and ropes and rope halters, traveling with his tiny house in tow and selling his wares in his travels--and here's the surprise, those halters aren't just for horses. What has made the guest ranch increasingly profitable is that one weekend per month is reserved for private, by-invitation-only kink parties, where Ethan's ropes and halters are not just for horses anymore.

When Victoria arrives at the ranch, she has no idea what she's supposed to do there, and due to her life of privilege, about the only thing she knows how to do is bake and dye fabric--something Ethan has been unsuccessfully trying to do with his ropes. When Victoria meets the couple in charge of the ranch, she pretends not to recognize them, but she's met them before, at kink parties and events. It seems that Victoria's secret kink is the BD part of BDSM, and it's Ethan's kink as well. The attraction between these two starts slowly, and, as Victoria learns what's expected of her in her new job, which includes mucking out horse stalls, serving meals, and cleaning the guest cottages, Ethan begins to gain some respect for the hard-working, beautiful but poor little rich girl, while she's busy sending out resumes in the hope of finding a job in her chosen field, although she missed her chance to get her degree when she quit college.

I have to admit that it took me some time to warm up to Victoria because the novel gets off to a very slow start and she's almost too naive and clueless about life to be believed. It also took some time for me to like Ethan, who is incredibly indecisive about what he wants his life to be. Additionally, this was a far cry from any other BDSM novel I've ever read, because rather than focusing on the darker aspects of BDSM, this novel takes an almost lighthearted approach to it. My only other issue is that when different forms of bondage are referred to by name, the differences between one form and another aren't fully explained, something that would have been helpful to understand. Finally, I found the ending of this novel rather abrupt, another reason I didn't give it a 5-star rating.

So, what will happen when Alexandra finds out about the kinky goings on at Hilltop Ranch, realizes that she's the one who found her sister that job, and then threatens to tell their parents, drag her sister out of there and call the police? What will Ethan decide to do about taking over the practice from the town vet? What will happen when she and Ethan discover their shared bondage kink? Will Victoria be able to keep her parents and her sister from dragging her away? What will happen if and when Victoria gets a job offer? Since I don't do spoilers, you'll just have read this unusual BDSM novel and find out the answers for yourself.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this novel.

Victoria has it all - a nice apartment, a place at a good college studying design and she's even been lucky enough to experience some fantastic internships to gain experience in the field she wants to work in. It all comes tumbling down around her when she overhears her father complaining about how much it's all costing him and how he had expected her to have hunted down a potential husband by now so he wouldn't have to continue supporting her forever. Victoria takes immediate action to become completely independent, dropping out of college one semester shy of graduation and taking low paid jobs to try and earn enough to cover her rent. It's only then that she starts to realise how sheltered her life has been and how little real life experience she actually has. Luckily for her she's been able to land a job at the Hilltop Ranch that includes food and board so now she'll have a little breathing room as she tries to decide what she wants to do with her life now.

I knew I was going to love Ethan after meeting him in the first book, he's such a fun guy, someone who loves to have adventures but who is also very settled in his career as a vet and helping to run the family ranch. Ethan is also part of the kinky community that love to play at the ranch's monthly BDSM Giddyup events, he's the resident rope expert and he's looking forward to the demonstration he has coming up at the next event. The last thing he needs is to get stuck babysitting the useless new staff member, someone who can't even figure out how to clean the bathroom without being given full instructions. He initially sees Victoria as a spoiled rich kid with no life skills but the more time he spends with her the more he realises that she's actually a hard worker who wants to learn but has never been given the opportunity before. There's no denying the chemistry between them and when he finds out that she's also a member of the kink community he finds her impossible to resist.

I have to admit I wasn't a fan of Victoria in the beginning, I took a pretty similar view of her that Ethan did and I was annoyed with the way she just dropped out of college so close to graduation in what came across as a bit of a childish tantrum. Don't get me wrong I admired her for wanting to stand on her own two feet and be independent and I definitely didn't agree with the way her family treated her but I was annoyed that she'd been given so much privilege and basically threw it all away. It's reminded me of that old saying about not cutting off your nose to spite your face! I was a bit nervous at that point because I find it very hard to get on board with a romance novel if I don't like one of the main characters but I'm really glad I stuck it out because it didn't take long at all for Victoria to start to turn things around. She really didn't have a clue about pretty much anything but she fought through her embarrassment to ask for help and advice when she needed it and it takes a lot of courage to do that.

I ended up really enjoying Rope 'Em, Ethan and Victoria have brilliant chemistry but they also work together well and built up a strong friendship. The kinky play was hot but nothing too over the top and I also enjoyed getting to see characters from the previous book. This series is definitely one I'm happy to recommend and I'm really looking forward to spending time with Ethan and Logan's cousin Chet who I'm pretty sure will be the hero of the next book.

I read an advanced copy of this book. It was a pretty good read. It was based on a guest ranch that closed down 1 weekend a month for kink parties. I thought the kink would have been described more but it was not. It was left to the imagination.

Rope 'Em is a short contemporary romance about a young woman who drops out of college short of a semester graduating and a young veterinarian opting out of a big practice to set up his own business. There paths crossed and a very kinky story line ensues.
This is a lighthearted romance with BDSM as a core element but its also about two people pursuing paths in life that people didn't expect them to be doing. Its like New Adult BDSM romance! Both Victoria and Ethan have issues that are quickly and realistically resolved. Its sexy and sweet. I do think Ms. Dryden has written more in depth and engaging stories prior to this one but Rope 'Em will still have readers entertained.

A good balance of kinky and sweet romance. The heroine's bid for an independent life is portrayed realistically and it is enjoyable to see he come into her own.

Strangely good. Instead of being all about bondage and sex (although that was certainly part of it), it was a sweet love story about a woman finding herself and someone to love.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book, but I felt as though there was something missing.

Victoria is an extremely naive and sheltered woman even though she has been living on her own for the past four years, attending art school in Rhode Island. Over Christmas break, she overhears her father telling someone that she has failed to obtain the one thing he sent her to school for: A Ring.

Not knowing what else to do, she decides to quit school, sell all her stuff, and try to make it on her own. Her problem: she doesn't know how to do anything. She's been pampered and taken care of her entire life. Not because she didn't want to learn, but because her parents didn't think she was smart enough to learn how to do things.

Ethan is a vet with a rope fetish. Living at Hilltop, he's able to indulge in his most wicked fantasies during the "Giddyup" weekends. "Giddyup" is what they call the private parties the ranch throws once a month for their kink-minded friends and customers.

When Victoria gets to Hilltop, she's in for a world of learning and she doesn't mind. She just wants to be useful, that's something she's never been. Ethan is stunned when he first sees her, but even more so when he learns she is into the scene.

I did enjoy this book, but there a few times that the timeline got a little tangled up for me, and I want to read more about the Hilltop Ranch.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Trigger: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Ethan and Victoria have an interesting start to their relationship. Ethan is trying to figure out where he goes from here. He has a degree in vet science, works as a large animal vet, but his passion isn't really there anymore. He wants to be dying the rope for BDSM events, living on the ranch, and just is not sure if taking over the large animal vet practice is the right move.

Victoria is floundering. She overheard her father discussing how he felt about her and it was less than flattering. Not only was he judging her, he was essentially saying that she was just a drain on them. Her life is in crisis. She quits school, packs up her car, and essentially hightails it out of her current job because her boss is a creep.

Victoria's know-it-all sister tries her very best not to continue to make decisions for Victoria – just like everyone else has done for her. When Victoria is left to help on a farm until she figures out what she wants, she feels like herself for the first time in a long time.

While Ethan and Victoria get to know each other, you can really see them working out their own issues. I liked how they were able to lean on each other, but also to decide on their own. There was not a lot of conflict in the story, there were some great sexy scenes, and in the end, you get a happily ever ending.

I think this was a very sweet story.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This little gem takes BDSM romance in a refreshingly original direction. Free from nearly all of the more tired genre tropes, this story had me looking at rope and rope play in a whole new light.

When Victoria decides she needs to leave her pampered life and become self-supporting, she finds an unlikely fresh start on a Texan ranch. At the start of the story, Victoria has no idea just how privileged she actually is. But as she adjusts to the real world, she becomes a much more sympathetic and engaging character. Her naivety is bloody annoying at the start of the book, but I really enjoyed her journey towards independence.

Ethan has spent his whole life training to be a large animal vet. But now that he’s finally qualified, he finds himself more interested in making, dying, using, and selling rope. His passion is contagious and I found myself more interested in ropes than I’d ever anticipated.

The relationship between these two is pretty unique. They share a kink – she likes to get tied up and he likes to tie people up using beautiful patterns and his own handmade ropes. Unusually for a romance, theirs is a very believable colleague to hook up to more relationship that felt real and honest. And unusually for BDSM, the kink didn’t involve any of the exaggerated and overdone D/s and impact play I’ve come to expect and dread from the genre. Here, the rope bondage kink is specific and the author explores it in wonderfully sensual detail.

This story manages to be both sexy and playful. The relationship between Ethan and Victoria is fun and almost angst free. The angst in this story comes from two people who are both giving up their safety nets to follow their passions. I loved their relationship and I really loved the whole Hilltop Ranch community. I can’t wait for the next story in this series!

3 1/2 star review......

The second instalment in the GiddyUp series definitely is well worth a read. Ethan and Victoria compliment each other, while struggling with the dilemma regarding their future goals and the expectations of others.

Throw in some kinky sex and animal attraction and you’ve got one hot and heavy romance to set your pulse racing and your heart pounding too. I liked the turn the story took in the later part of the book, but did feel the ending was anti-climactic.

Victoria overhears her father lamenting about the amount of money he spends on her education. He goes on to say he expected her to be trolling for a husband instead of going after some useless degree in design. Victoria is upset and vows to break away from her family's money. She withdraws from college, gets a new affordable living space, and gets herself a new job. But after an altercation at work, she quits and heads back home asking her sister for help.

Her sister does help by getting her a job at Hilltop Ranch doing everything from mucking stalls to baking cookies. She finds she needed a place like this, especially when she finds out they do monthly kinky events! When Ethan is assigned to show her the ropes around the ranch, she's not prepared for how he makes her feel. When she learns about his rope and bondage fetish, she knows she wants to keep on exploring him some more!

Ethan is a vet, but in between work places by choice. He is building a tiny house with hopes of spanning the country and selling his handmade rope. He makes harnesses for horses and sells his rope to fetish lovers at the monthly kinky weekends. It's a hobby but it truly seems to be the thing he enjoys the most. When he's introduced to Victoria, he believes he's never met anyone more beautiful than her. He's asked to show her what to do on the ranch. She's a quick learner, but she's never cleaned a toilet before??? He jumps to an assumption that was very off its mark.


I really enjoyed reading Rope Em'! Victoria and Ethan's romance just kind of happened and I loved how it evolved. They end up having a lot in common which surprised them both. I also liked that Victoria's education was very strong and she knew her stuff! I really liked both characters and felt I could be friends easily with them! The tiny house angle fit well! All in all it was a fun, quick book with just the right amount of sizzle! Grab this one today and get a little kink on!

reviewed by Deb

I enjoyed this book in the Giddy Up series. The storyline was well developed as were the characters in the story. I sure learned a lot about ropes and kink! I found the story moved at a moderate to fast pace and it kept my interest throughout the entire novel. I could not put it down!! I look forward to reading more from this author.

We all know the story of when a boy meets a girl, but this is the story of where a kinky cowboy meets a kinky rich girl. Throw in rope play, rope making, and a tiny house, and this is one sweet, sexy, and slightly unusual story.

Warning: the beginning is glacial slow. Victoria and Ethan don't even meet until about a quarter into the book. If anything, the first quarter was completely unnecessary and could have been edited out.

Also, beware of bad first impressions. At first glance, Victoria is an airhead rich Daddy's girl hell bent on making stupid decisions. Again, I was tempted to roll my eyes and hit the DNF button. But I'm glad I didn't because once Victoria found confidence to stand up for herself to Ethan, and later to her parents, she was a firecracker. The sex scene where Victoria finally lets Ethan know that she's a textile design expert gives new meaning to the term "competence porn".

Victoria discovers over winter break that her father resents the amount of money he is spending on his younger daughter's education on Rhode Island. He goes further to say that he thinks she should be finding herself a husband instead of a useless degree. When Victoria returns to school she vows to stop taking money from her parents and fend for herself. A bad experience at work has her hustling back to Texas.

Ethan is a veterinarian between practices. He has decided to take some time, back at the family dude ranch, to further his rope business. The ranch is a family friendly enterprise all but one weekend a month when it turns into a kink retreat featuring his specially made rope. The new hire Victoria may not know how to clean toilets but she sure can handle suspension.

Their romance is fast but it is well done. They discover friendship and shared interests that go beyond the weekend. Will they let careers, her parents, or her meddling sister come between them?

a good solid hot romance. good dialogue and plot. Enjoyed

an ok read

Overall a good story. I liked the characters of Victoria and Ethan, and would have liked to see more of them going after their personal issues more. At times the story goes well, then seems to go off with the kinky sex issues, then back to their personal issues, then the kink, then issues, etc. You get the drift. I liked it overall, and was interested enough to read through to the end, but did start to skim here and there partway through. Would still recommend, but not my favorite.

Rope ‘Em is the second book in the Giddyup series. This is Ethan and Victoria’s story and I must say I really like it. The interaction and dynamics between the characters had me turning the pages and kept me invested until the end

I have never read a book so perfectly written for me. No lie. There was discussion about textiles, star trek, Phineas and Ferb, plus a hot kinky cowboy? SIGN ME UP.