This book was amazing. I loved the dynamic between the characters and how he wanted to heal to be better for her. It was great that he supported her with her parents and to follow her dreams.

The fact that Sara Cate wrote this guaranteed I would read it, but if you took that away what would attract me to this book? Well, two of my favorite tropes: forced proximity and grumpy versus grumpy. In this case, it’s a grumpy, reclusive Scottish billionaire and a grumpy, tough-as-nails New Yorker. What a delightfully volatile combination.

It’s not until I was reading Keep Me that I realized I was going to fall in love with these characters, because they’re both heavily motivated by the same thing that’s gotten me through some of the toughest spots in my life: spite. Spite is not only one of the most powerful and relatable motivators, it’s also one of the most combustible.

Sylvie and Killian are a fire waiting to ignite as they both loathe and lust at first sight. All too often a book bills itself as enemies-to-lovers and softballs it; Keep Me goes hard and gives you no cause to doubt that our main characters might just go and drown each other in a nearby loch at some point. The tension will make you shiver in the best way.

When these two break, it’s like a sundering of the earth.

There are vital themes underneath the romance about pride, self-worth, parental abandonment, grief, anxiety, self-esteem, repressed emotions, and trust, but the romance between Sylvie and Killian was so enthralling I can only think of it all as scaffolding for their beautiful story.

I was provided a copy of this title by the author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Billionaire Romance/Book Series/Contemporary Romance/Kink Friendly/Spice Level 3

A tall, bearded, strong Scotsman MMC? YES PLEASE 🥵

A huge thank you to NetGalley for getting to read this ARC 🙏

Sylvie is a scrappy, resilient, badass child of two snotty artists. After her boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend, she is hesitant but excited when an opportunity comes her way to make 10 million dollars.
Killian is the oldest of his siblings and just wants to live his life without anyone bothering him. When his family offers him a deal for him to seemingly get what he wants, he begrudgingly goes along with it.

This story has such witty banter and delicious tension. Fake marriage, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, but also anxiety/panic and trauma representation?? This book is 10/10 in every way 💙🤍

Keep Me is the first in a new series by @saracatebooks. It’s a marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, age gap, forced proximity romance set in Scotland.

The spark between Killian and Slyvie is evident from the moment they meet, and it’s anything but a meet cute moment. The hate they spew towards each other is horrible yet delicious. The tension builds and erupts with hot spicy scenes. When they give way to the tension, and open themselves up, they start to see there’s more to the other than they thoughts. Both are broken in different ways, but they can recognise the pain and hurt easily for the other.

I loved how this story was written - it’s duel POV but in parts - each part is from either Killians or Slyvies perspective.

Thank you @saracatebooks and @netgalley for the e-ARC of this story. I can’t wait to see where the rest of the series heads.

Keep Me by Sara Cate- This book is a perfect blend of heartfelt romance and irresistible spice, guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings and leave you swooning!❤️

The first few chapters had me completely hooked! Sara Cate has an incredible talent for crafting beautifully written spicy scenes that feel natural and never overdone. The story between Killian and Sylvie is so sweet, romantic, and unique, and I also loved the witty banter between the characters, which added so much charm and depth. I found myself fully immersed in their love story and couldn’t help but think—I need to find my own broody Scottish man! I truly enjoyed this book. If you’re into heartfelt romance with all the spice, this book is a must-read! ❤️🥵

Favorite Quote-

He took the ugliest parts of me and loved them right along with the beautiful ones. He let me scream and cry and held me afterward like I was the most important person in his life.

A grumpy Scottish kilt wearing man written by Sara Cate?!?!? TAKE MY MONEY AND GIVE ME THE SMUT!


What do you get when you mix a free spirited American woman who gets cut off by her rich parents and a brutish Scottish man whose family hatches a plan to get him married? A blazing HAWT marriage of convenience!

I can never get enough of Sara's books. The way she is able to write taboo, kinky books that also have so much depth is exactly what I'm always looking for in a book. And while I'm constantly reading other books by other authors. There is just something about Sara's writing that can't compare to others, in my opinion. Every time I finish one of her books, I end up in a reading slump for weeks after because I can't find another book as good as hers.

I absolutely loved the angst between Sylvie and Killian! And the slower burn was perfect and exactly what I needed! I felt so much for both characters and the things they were going through. Sylvie and her issues with her parents and Killian with his PTSD struggles. I loved seeing both of them support each other through those difficult situations.

If you loved salacious players or really any other book by Sara Cate, you'll love this one just as much. It's exactly what you'd expect from her writing. Pure gold!

Age gap
Scottish mmc
Possessive mmc
Marriage of convenience
Exhibitionist
Kinky parties

My spice rating:🌶🌶🌶


Possible triggers
Parental neglect
Light Partner sharing
OW drama (not entertained intentionally by mmc)
Cheating (not between mcs)
Parental death
Abuse of alcohol

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Grumpy, reclusive Killian Barclay just wants to be left alone… a goal which proves impossible when equally grumpy Sylvie Devereaux quite literally breaks into his life and his manor in Scotland. Weeks later, Sylvie is approached by Killian’s family with an offer: marry Killian to help his playboy antics and walk away with ten million. The catch? They have to stay married for a year. Initial mutual loathing soon turns into something more… but can Sylvie keep her feeling separate from her final goal of a payout?

Good golly, do I love Sara’s writing. Her characters had such a range of development of their relationship… the mutual disdain of our two MCs and their development in their relationship and trust made for a wonderful storyline. I rarely get to witness a grumpy/grumpy pairing, and I simply LOVE when the FMC is this much of a crank! The setting of the story was almost like an additional character in the story, creating such a visual backdrop that kept me in the story. AND THE SPICE!! Ms. Cate always knows how to make me squeal in delight, somehow always timing the spiciest of scenes to be when I was reading on the CTA. This book was so great!

Tropes in this story:
✨Arranged marriage
✨Grumpy x Grumpy
✨Strangers to intense hate to lovers
✨Spice which was a little k!nky and taboo (YUM)
✨Scottish brogues & men in kilts

I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book via HambrightPR, Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley but my review is all my own.

What do you get when you bring together a kilt-wearing brutish Scotsman who hates the world and a once-rich self-centered brat with zero dollars to her name? An explosive marriage of convenience.

Admittedly, I had hoped for a bit more character growth, particularly for Sylvie, and the third act breakup was cliché. Yet the story was angsty and sexy, just with a slower burn and less overt kink and spice than what we've come to expect from Sara Cate. Make no mistakes, it was emotional and addictive, just a bit different.

Once i started this book, I couldn't stop. Killian and Sylvie are literal enemies to lovers. Hate sex that turns into a longing for each other was delicious.

I really enjoyed the growth of Killian and loved this transformation - it almost felt Beauty and the Beast-y. Beautiful girl agrees to a contractual marriage, stands up to the Beast in this castle - an event happens and love comes through.

10/10 - I can't wait to see the rest of the series!

"I'm your husband. I wont let you go. I will always be by your side. I will always care about you, you understand?"
"You're not really-"
"Don't you say that to me again, Sylvie Barclay. I don't care about some stupid f- contract. I love you.. With my whole f- chest, I love you. So don't give me any of that s- about not being your real husband, because I'm right here."

Nothing makes me happier than reading a Sara cate romance - because you know you're getting spice, angst, and just characters that have a unique connection. And this book is no different! ALSO its a grumpy x grumpy pairing which I just adored. Sylvie's family/ ex/. friend are all the worst and I just loved how she found solace (if not begrudgingly) with the grumpy and reclusive Killian. I was desperate to find out more of Killian's backstory (the sad and the spicy) and once I did I just enjoyed his character and growth so much more!

"In truth, I did fall recklessly in love with him. The hate I once felt never went away - it just changed. The passion is a different color now."

💜Marriage of Convenience
💚Enemies to Lovers
💙Grumpy x Grumpy
💚Forced Proximity
💜International: Primarily set in Scotland

Final Rating: 3.75⭐, 3.75🌶️- This wasn't my favorite SC romance - maybe because it was straight to traditional publishing? I'm not sure, but the storyline and flow was off for me, and I didn't get as H&B over the spicy scenes as I normally do. The pacing for the love/ connection between Killian and Sylvie threw me off at times. Like there was a rather quick jump from hostile aggression to spice to warm and fuzzies. And while I recognized the purpose of the third act break-up, I just was discouraged over it. I wanted how Killian found out about the contract to be different. However, while this isn't my fave book by Sara, I'm still a STAN of her writing and you'll find me giddy for the next book in this series aw well as any other book she gifts us with publishing!

"My woman. My Wife. My Darling."

Brief Plot: Killian and Sylvie have a meet-cute, but more of a hate-bad, when S breaks into K's home to see a typewriter. A few days later, K's sister approaches S with an offer for a fake marriage for a wholeeeee lotta money, but at the downfall of her soon to be hubs. But because of the whole hate-bad meeting, she has no problem with stabbing Killian, the reclusive Scot. Or...will she start feeling bad when they start to grow closer, and spicer 😉 (I mean it is a Sara Cate romance!)

Thank you Sara Cate, Hambright PR & NetGalley for eARC's of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Wow. Wow. Wow.

So much different than what I was expecting from Mrs. Sara Cate but oh my gosh so good.

I absolutely loved this book. The hate to love. The tension. The banter. The constant digs at each other 😆 I love love loved Sylvie and Killian. The way their relationship ship progressed of so slowly but still making tiny moves towards each other. The fire and passion behind their fights and interactions were delicious. The heat once they finally came together was insane.

The emotional aspect of this one caught me off guard. I think this is the first time a SC book has left me a blubbering mess. I really really enjoyed the way they both handled and dealt with their issues. Killian seeking help so he could be at his best for Sylvie was so so endearing. I really love that man and how much effort he put into himself so he could be the man he felt Sylvie deserved.

Such an amazing book! Definitely a new SC fav!

4.5⭐️

**arc review via the author & NetGalley🫶🏼**

actually loved this one! i was a bit skeptical at first because these two characters were just not good people at the beginning lol but what does that say about me that i kind of loved that? some morally questionable, stubborn MC's pitted against each other and it made for such a refreshing setting for this book!

i really loved that this book felt like it's own new story but still held aspects of the typical Sara Cate kinky world that we've all come to love without it being just a copy and paste of her other stuff! i loved how different this one felt from what I've read from SC before.

the progression of the story and the character's relationship felt perfect. nothing felt rushed or off timing-wise. getting to see these two terrible people start to become good both for themselves and each other was actually so sweet 🥹

the 3rd act hurt me a bit (Sara how dare you) but also felt right for this story! it was a good mix of story to smut to emotion!!

overall i really loved this one! it was such an unexpected story that i feel was super well done.

Sylvie Devereaux sneaks into a home in the Scottish countryside to see a famous heirloom and is met with the infuriating owner of the home, Killian. Weeks late, Killian's family approaches Sylvie with an offer she can't refuse: a marriage of convenience to improve Killian's reputation in exchange for a LOT of money, like a life-changing amount of money. Of course Sylvie agrees, but things are not smooth sailing, However, the two become closer and Sylvie has a decision to make: should she stay with Killian or take the money and run?

I could not get into this book. It has the trappings of things I love: marriage of convenience, Scottish hotties, enimies-to-lovers, etc; but I found Sylvie absolutely abhorrent and immature, and Killian wasn't much better. I DNF pretty early on. My library has already purchased a copy, and I'm sure it will circulate well, but I would recommend other books by Sara Cate before this one.

I would give this a 3.5-3.75! I truly do always love Sara's writing, but I really could not get myself to care about these characters. Trust me, I TRIED MY BESTEST. This didn't really have me captivated from cover to cover, but it was still a fun time.

Enemies to lovers set in the Scottish countryside is the perfect set up to another awesome Sara Cate book. I love when a character has a lot of growth that needs to happen before they can really learn to love and let me tell you both of the MC’s have a lot of growing to do. The plot is beautifully written, and I felt like I was in the story with Sylvie and Killian as they learned to live together, then eventually how to share their lives together. Sara Cate is a wonderful story teller, and I hope that this book turns into an entire new series from her.

This is an incredible love story in between very spicy spice 👀. I love Killian and his struggles and how I felt it right down to the bottom of my heart. I love the nicknames and the banter and just the slow and stead way they found each other and let the other in. There is heartbreak and healing and finding your home. Such a great story. I noticed that this says book one of the sinful manor so I'm kind of excited to see where the brothers Declan and Lachlan take the story.

I am a sucker for a Scotsman and boy did Sara Cate deliver on this book boyfriend!

Sylvie and Killian's story was an emotional rollercoaster and I enjoyed every minute. Watching the two of them grow and work through their traumas throughout this story was beautiful. The story wasn't what I expected going into Sara Cate book but it was epic nonetheless.

For anyone who likes enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience and forced proximity with a Scottish MMC and plenty of tension and spice...pick this book up immediately!

Another Sara Cate book that i absolutely loved!!

You can’t help but fall in love with Sylvia and Killian straightaway. The hate fuelled banter where you can feel the tension grow and edging for it to become something more.

The character development with both the main characters is a huge part of this book. Two strangers that had been left to fend for themselves, trying to get through a year and go back to how things were.

And is it even a Sara Cate book if it doesn’t mention smex clubs?

The spice, the characters, the story, everything you need for a book you can’t put down.

I’m really hoping this will continue with one of the other Barclay brothers.

This was the marriage-of-convenience romance of my dreams! Plus it's set in Scotland....I mean, what more could you possibly want in a romance? Run (don't walk) to this one on pub day!

So, wow...I was not expecting that much spice. This was my first book by this author. I felt like it was twist of Beauty and the Beast and 50 shades to a point. Sylvie was a twit. The author did a good job at making me completely dislike her. And Killian....the words he called Sylvie drove me crazy. Yes, they butted heads all of the time but if you loved her, you would find kinder words, especially since you know she doesn't fee worthy of love. She asks in the end for him to stop calling her "cow and wench" and he refused. Ugh..

I do appreciate the storyline of anxiety and how they dealt with it.