Knots and Lattes: A Contemporary Small-Town Romance: A grumpy author, a secret rope artist, and a love story brewed with trust and desire

by Lila Montgomery

Maya Chen has two lives.
By day, she runs Heartstrings Café, the coziest coffee shop in Millbrook—her heart-shaped lattes and warm smile drawing in the whole town. By night, when the lights dim and the doors lock, she transforms her café into something entirely a private studio for her secret passion—shibari rope art.

Liam Sullivan is Millbrook’s most mysterious resident. A reclusive, bestselling thriller author with a permanent scowl and a rigid routine, he’s known for ordering the same coffee every morning—black, no sugar, no small talk. But one forgotten laptop charger changes everything.

When Liam stumbles into Maya’s after-hours world, he discovers more than knots and rope. He discovers an artist. A woman who challenges his walls, and forces him to face the vulnerability he’s long buried.

As their worlds intertwine, Maya and Liam begin a journey built on trust, artistry, and undeniable chemistry. But when secrets from Liam’s past resurface, threatening the fragile sanctuary they’ve built together, they must decide if love can truly hold them—or if some knots are meant to be untied.

Perfect for fans of small-town romance with a twist of spice, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, and stories of second chances, Knots and Lattes blends comfort with passion in an unforgettable slow-burn love story.

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 23, 2025

About the author

Hello and thank you so much for stopping by.

I’ve always loved books—especially ones that carry me into other worlds—and it felt only natural to start writing stories of my own. I adore weaving tales of forbidden love, strong women, and the sparks of magic that can change everything.

When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me curled up with a cup of tea (or coffee, depending on the day), wandering through secondhand bookshops, or daydreaming about my next adventure. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart, and I believe stories have the power to set our souls on fire.

I’d love to hear what you think of my books—feel free to connect with me on social media or leave a review here. Hearing from readers truly makes my day.

Happy reading,
Love, Lila xx

Reviews

[Lilac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore how this novel represented Shibari and the healing that can come from this art form. 5/5 star book 🥰

[Scarlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming with an Uncommon Premise

I didn't expect to come across a book like this, but I'm glad I did.

Being a contemporary romance about a girl who's passionate about Shibari rope art, of all things, you would think it would be much spicier than it is. And that is by design.

The story revolves around Maya's hyper-awareness of other people's assumptions and judgment about an artform that means the world to her in her personal growth. It is explicitly mentioned many times that her love for the medium is not based in eroticism but rather the meditative and therapeutic elements of rope work.

The author uses the story to explore themes such as community, self-acceptance, creative trauma healing, overcoming perceived judgment of others, and more. The romance is compelling enough to seem genuine but does not take over the majority of the book. The main focus is character growth, not just for Maya or even the town grump but also countless other characters both named and unnamed that Maya winds up impacting in her personal journey.

You can tell that the author put a lot of time and care in the portrayal of Shibari in this book, but the author's note at the end really seals the deal. There is discussion of how this fictional story has parallel elements to the healing journey of real humans in our current society. No one is named specifically, but it peak my interest and led me to finding some incredible examples of impactful shibari exhibitions documented online.

My only personal concern is with Maya's workload by the end of the book. I love the path that her story takes her, but if it were me, the thought of juggling everything she's got at the end and still somehow keeping the coffee shop open makes me head spin. That's just a me issue, though. I'm sure Maya will continue taking everything one step at a time, and whatever the future holds, she'll continue figuring it out with her person and her sense of freedom through restraint. (Or maybe Zoe will just take over as owner some day).

I would definitely recommend this one for anyone who has found comfort in the unconventional when healing, or even those living lifestyles that differ from what they were brought up to believe was acceptable. I definitely felt personal impact with the scenes in which Maya's mom was present.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[N L Hiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so incredibly sweet and truly warmed my heart. There seemed to be a lot of reflection in the writing style, but that's not a bad thing. I think it's perfect for the story. Knots & Lattes explores cultural expectations, trauma, authenticity, and healing, while trying to learn to open ourselves up to the world and to love again. It made me cry, multiple times, out of happiness and so much appreciation for this story. It made me feel seen. A great book, a great story, will make a reader feel seen, heard, and understood. This book, this story, does that and more.

-sweet small town romance
-rereadability
-representation
-making the reader feel seen, heard, and understood
-and the fact that I will learn how to craft a better story in my own writing from this book

That makes this a 6-star read for me.

I truly can't wait to dive into more from Lila Montgomery. Thank you, Lila.