📚⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🌶️🌶️🌶️

Dual narration by Kelli Target & Will Watt

• Marriage of Convenience • Grump/Grumpy • Broody Scottish Billionaire • Hate to Love • Forced Proximity • Kinky Vibes •

This book had two feisty MCs who both have a lot they need to work through, but they find the beginnings of healing together. And of course, tears were shed, not just by the characters, but me as well. I really liked the way she did dual POV in this book, with each MC getting several chapters from their POV in a row before switching to the other MC.

I loved it! Killian, the grumpy, billionaire Scotsman, and Sylvie, the feisty, stubborn, lonely New Yorker. They were such a balanced match and the dislike-to-love and forced proximity were perfect!

Not as spicy as Sara’s books usually are, but what was there was so delicious! She still managed to squeeze in a little spanking and other k¡nks.

I almost knocked out down to 4.5 stars because I felt like we didn’t really get to feel them fall in love. It kind of felt like they just got used to each other’s company and saw how shitty people treated them. So much of Killian’s growth happened in the 8 months they were apart for the 3rd act break up.

But I overall enjoyed the story and their interactions and loved when he came for her in town at night and when he threw her parents out of his house.

The narrators were great! The Scottish accents were subtle but still understandable. And I picked up some additional stuff while listening that I missed while reading.

Thank you Sara, for both an ARC and ALC of this book!

Sylvie’s life is turned upside down when her parents stop supporting her financially and don’t even answer her phone calls. She is an aspiring writer who needs to write a story but has no ideas. While in Scotland with her boyfriend, she goes inside a mansion. The mansion owner accuses her of trespassing in his house uninvited, and he breaks her phone.
Back home stateside, she discovers her boyfriend is having an affair with her best friend. Sylvie has hit rock bottom.
That’s when the sister of the man she met abroad, the one whose house she broke into, makes her an offer. She can’t refuse. She offers Sylvie $10 million to marry her brother.
Keep Me is Sara Cate’s signature BDSM Romance set in Scotland. What’s not to love? My one critique of this book is how the hero, Killian, speaks to the heroine at the beginning of the relationship. It was a little
jarring. But once we got past that, I enjoyed this book quite a bit, especially when you learn about the hurts both of them have gone through, the reason for Killian’s reclusiveness, and how they helped each cope with their traumas.
The book was smooth sailing after that. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc of Keep Me. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just when you think Sara can’t be any more of an amazing author, she laughs and says “hold my water”

Keep Me was the story I didn’t realize I needed.
I am a sucker for a story where the love interests find safety and comfort in each other and are able to grow into theirselves.

The end was a real twist I didn’t expect but no matter what, I trust Sara with the journey she takes us on every time.

If you’re looking for a story about an FMC that is searching for a way to find herself. And an MMC that gives all the good burly Scottish vibes, then look no further!

Oh! Also, this may take you on an emotional roller coaster that requires tissues. AND check your TWs cause your health matters.

If a book is set in Scotland, you best believeee I am going to be obsessed right off the bat! This book is a story of enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience/forced proximity. Killian and Sylvie were honestly like fire and gasoline at the beginning of this book! I’m all about a grumpy/broody Scottish MMC, but sometimes I was honestly a little taken aback at how mean Killian was to her.

Once I got further into the story and got more insight as to why the main characters are the way that they are, I understood their personalities a bit more.

This book was definitely tamer on the spice level than other Sara Cate books I’ve read in the past but I still really enjoyed it! I finished it on a flight in one sitting!

“You have us. You’re not alone.”

I’m truly not sure how she does it, but Sara manages to blow me away with every book she writes.

I walked into this one blind, purely sold on it based on the author and the fact that it was set in Scotland. But it turned into so much more.

This book was a phenomenal marriage-of-convenience romance about learning to love, be loved, and be worthy of love while being broken. And I don’t know about you, but that hit me in the feels with every page.

“You’re never more beautiful than when you stick up for yourself.”

This book, along with many of her others, was healing in ways I didn’t anticipate. I loved reading and learning about both Killian and Sylvie—their pasts, their goals, and what they were willing to do to make them happen. The banter and the chemistry between the two of them was pure fire and I wasn’t able to put it down.

I think the thing I loved the most about Killian and Sylvie is how much they both individually grow, how much they care for one another despite not wanting to, and the genuine friendship that forms from the most unlikely of pairings.

“He’s the last person on earth I want to love, but I can’t help it. I do.”

I cannot recommend Sara’s books enough—and if you’re looking for a Scottish treat, I just know you’ll love this one. And it comes out tomorrow!

You’ll love this book if you like:
- Scottish setting
- Marriage of convenience
- Found family
- Forced proximity
- Enemies to lovers

CW: parental neglect, cheating (not between main characters), death, agoraphobia, PTSD, alcoholism, bullying, aggression

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

♡ Scottich Billionaire
♡ Marriage of Convenience
♡ Enemies(ish) to Lovers
♡ Grumpy & Grumpier
♡ Familial Grief/Trauma
♡ "My wife"

One grumpy Scottish billionaire + one spoiled American prodigy (loosely) = a battle of wills and an explosion of passions.

I wasn't sure how I was going to like this book, but I should know by now to never doubt Sara Cate. 🤌 I should also know that she is going to hurt my feelings every time. 🙃

This is the story of how money and privilege can't always buy happiness, and also how great banging one out after a screaming match can be. These two are constantly bumping heads and exchanging verbal blows, but you know what they say about hate being another form of passion?

Also, Killian gives me major Heathcliff vibes with his tortured brooding hero persona.

Thank you to Sara Cate and her team, as well as NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved how this story played out with its creative scene stealing moments between two unique and fascinating characters. The beginning of their story started out with an intriguing opening that had me hooked. Both characters were equally fascinating though I did find her a bit too strong willed at the start, his presence helped to moderate that feeling. The chemistry was off the charts. The attraction was beautifully written. The story was an absolute delight to read. Great storytelling.

Book #1 in the Sinful Manor and I loved Killian & Sylvie's story. Absolutely 100% phenomenal and attention grabbing. Forced proximity, fake marriage, captivating and so good.

I LOVE Killian Barclay. Full stop. The Killian Barclay and Sylvie Devereaux that first meet are... well, Sylvie gives zero f@cks what people think about her, and Killian feels basically the same. Once you get to know them both, you find there is so much more than meets the eye. They are both such broken people, and each in such different and devastating ways. The beautiful and sweet ways they come together to find that connection drew me right in, and I never wanted their story to end.

"He took the ugliest parts of me and loved them right along with the beautiful ones."

I completely devoured this book. Sylvie and Killian's banter and dynamic was so much fun to read. I loved that even through their initial bumps & dislike of each other, they seemed to truly want the best for each other and tried to bring those qualities out. Highly recommend.

✨ Review ✨
***
Keep Me was so good!!! Sara Cate did it again with this story. I absolutely loved it. Killian and Sylvie were perfect. I loved their banter and fighting. Their hate and chemistry was perfect. The writing was so good and easy to read. I couldn't put this book down. The relationship between these two characters was perfectly written. I loved the hate, the love, and the friendship. The spice was so good and hot. The growth of each character was beautiful. They worked together to make each other better and that was my favorite part. The ending was perfect. My heart broke in the last few chapters but by the epilogue it was put back together. I finished this story with a huge smile on my face.
***
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
Romance: 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
***

“We’re all a mess but the trick is to find someone who thinks your mess is a masterpiece.”

This book was unexpected and a wild ride with a lot of banter, emotions, past traumas, growth, healing and in true Sara Cate fashion spiceeee. One day Sylvie is breaking into a Scottish man’s manor to find a typewriter and the next she is marrying said Scottish man for 10 million dollars. Killian is a grump on the outside and keeps to himself inside his manor but there is so much more to him on the inside. This poor man has went through a lot in the past and has never fully healed. These two deliver on the grumpy x grumpy. They bicker and banter constantly that just leads to desire and feelings. The ending was honestly my favorite just seeing the growth and looking back on how much they grew individually and together to heal and be better people.

Killian and Sylvie enter into a marriage of convenience. Although there is hidden motives in the contract unbeknownst to Killian. Bith characters have their own backstory and issues. Her family ugh is what leads her to Scotland to begin with, while Killian's Aunt Lorna again ugh. But his sister and Sylove harbor guilt over what is going to happen. It had some steam and although not like Sara's usual level of steam nonetheless still an enjoyable story.

Sara cate knocked this enemies to lovers, marriage of convince story out of the park. Killian is a recluse that just wants to be left alone. Sylvia on the other hand is loud and in your face. These two managed to heal each other in ways neither of them could have ever anticipated. I loved watching them reluctantly fall in love with each other. I also loved that while they gave each other the drive to improve that they also both were able to grow on their own as well. They got a beautiful HEA and I thought it was perfect for them. This story is very different from what Sara has written in the past but she did a spectacular job with it.

Omg this book was an amazing I enjoyed the slow burn between Sylivie and Killian who happens to be a grumpy Scottish man who I think is like Jamie ( but not like Jamie). I love the name calling to falling In love. I love how Sara bring in mental illness cause some people would ignore their mental illness before it’s too late. I love this I can not wait for the next book for this series!!! It’s hot and funny.

Another fabulous book by Sara Cate and I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of this series. I give this a solid 4.75 rounded up to 5 stars despite the couple of things I took issue with as they are more of a personal taste issue than a writing issue.

The main characters were well thought out and the perfect dose of angsty. The fake marriage trope was well done but there were aspects of their relationship I didn't enjoy (the awful names they called each other) I will say the rest of the book was fun, emotional, and to my level of spice.

I will admit that I love most of Sara Cate's books. This one had some things in it that I did not enjoy (name calling and a really weird thing that the MMC had for using his thumb to put something back where he thought it belonged...like every single time) but somehow Sara writes it in a way that I find myself forgiving even if I don't personally get it.

The characters were a little shallow in the beginning, but I felt like they needed to be in order to grow, which they absolutely did.

The fake marriage was a bit of a stretch and felt a bit rushed, but absolutely worth it in the end.

The setting was absolutely to die for. I mean, who wouldn't want to spend a year in a Scottish manor with the possibility of making millions if you can pull off your fake marriage with a sexy, brooding, grumpy Scottish man?

I found myself loving the characters (side and main) despite their many flaws, and I cannot wait to see what's next for this series.

Keep Me is the first book in a new series, Sinful Manor, by Sara Cate. This story follows Sylvie Devereaux and Killian Barclay, both major grumps turned lovers. They really brought a new meaning to enemies to lovers, as they hated each other so intensely at the beginning… but they do say there is a thin line between hate and passion.

Killian has lived in Barclay Manor since the death of his parents. His way of dealing with grief is a little… unconventional and when his family finds out, they want him to settle down or risk losing the manor. When Sylvie breaks into his house while on a trip with her boyfriend, he knows he’s found just the one to make him settle down.

Upon her return home with her boyfriend, Sylvie eventually finds out that he’s been sleeping with her best friend.. And when Killian’s sister approaches her with an offer for 10 million dollars if she can stay married to him for a year, it’s a little difficult to say no.

This is different than Sara’s previous work. I’ve never had two characters that hate each other so vehemently, to the point where I was honestly doubtful they’d ever fall for each other. They eventually do and that’s of course when everything starts to fall apart, because of course it does. In the end, my heart was absolutely broken for both of them, as they are truly just two broken people wanting to be loved.

There was a lot of trauma to unpack between the two of them, but just as much growth and I enjoyed seeing how their relationship developed as they did that together. Killian standing up for Sylvie when her parents were being awful to her and Sylvie talking Killian down from a panic attack while on their getaway are two big moments that just made me melt a little for them.

This was such an emotional rollercoaster! Overall the story was interesting, there’s a lot of trauma the two have faced and they definitely needed the right help. I’m glad the MMC did in the end.

I adore Sara Cate and I was/am really looking forward to this new series from her. Keep Me was a great start to the Sinful Manor series and I can't wait to see what the next occupants of the Barclay home will get up to.

I will keep this review real simple with 3 things I liked and 2 that I didn't:

I liked the setting, of course! I'm always up for going to Scotland for a romp. It's always such a wonderful place for romance.

I loved Killian and Sylvie. They were a great couple. The hate to love felt a tad over the top at first, however, it does make sense as we get to know their own personal trauma and what bothers them.

Finally, I really enjoyed their growing connection and how they found ways to support each other. Their selfish desires turned to trying to better each other's lives and that was beautiful to see.

A few things I didn't care for:

I feel like I missed the tipping point that drove Killian and Sylvie into love... Maybe some of it got cut? Like, I know we are covering a year of their lives in the manor, but I feel like we missed more that I needed to see.

And I do feel like the kink was played a little safe... We were teased with some really sexy things and there were some... I just expect a bit more pizazz from Sara Cate I guess.

I have mixed feelings about this one! The first half was a bit rough for me. The characters are intentionally unlikeable but it got a little grating.

I love the concept and theme of marriage of convenience, inheritance, and betrayal. That was fun and added some depth.

Surprisingly it is probably the biggest slow burn of SCs books. It took way longer to heat up than SPC and the Goode series. The spicy scenes were of course decadent. It's not as kinky as her other books so adjust your expectations accordingly.

The enemies were ENEMYING good lord they hated each other and definitely vocalized it. Then it switches to sappy quite quickly. This may have been a pacing issue for me but the switch wasn't entirely relatable or believable.

Second half/last quarter of the book has the most in terms of character and plot development. Unfortunately by then I was somewhat checked out.

As for the audio- loved the Scottish MMC narration. Struggled with the FMC doing the Scottish male accent. Had to slow down during the MMC parts but that was fine. He was hot and gruff.