I will say it every single time, Sara Cate can do no wrong. I love everything this woman writes. I really enjoyed both characters in the story and getting to see both of their perspectives. I loved how they both fell hard and both were too scared to tell each other. I love the ending. That’s all I’m gonna say I don’t wanna ruin it, but I loved the ending. The book comes out today. I really think you should.
Killian is a brute who doesn’t want to change his ways. Sylvie break into his house and all of a sudden she’s offered a marriage proposal. Neither of them like each other and they both believe they’re going to get a house out of this situation. But they didn’t expect to fall as hard as they did. The tension between these two and when the spice hits, Lord grab a towel.

I don’t know how it’s possible but with every single new book that Sara Cate releases I become even more feral for her creations.

I was hooked from the start of Keep Me, I literally couldn’t focus on anything but Killian and Sylvie’s story. It was so easy to find pieces of both characters to connect too and love. Their pasts their stories in general pulled at my heart strings but the way they came together was so beautiful.

I loved how the progression of the time in the story was written, it didn’t feel rushed and you didn’t feel like you were missing pieces but the little jumps here and there.

I honestly think this might be a top contender for my favorite Sara Cate book yet…

I am so excited to see how this series progresses.

5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️

Keep Me by Sara Cate is a captivating marriage-of-convenience romance with all the right ingredients for a binge-worthy read. Killian Barclay, a broody Scottish highlander with a dark past, meets his match in Sylvie Devereaux, a tough New Yorker with a sharp tongue and a guarded heart. Their unlikely arrangement—marrying to fix his reputation—leads to hilarious clashes, undeniable chemistry, and eventually, heartfelt vulnerability.
The banter between Killian and Sylvie is fantastic, with their early encounters providing plenty of hilarious moments.
As the story unfolds, both characters reveal their softer sides, especially Killian, whose emotional depth makes him an unforgettable hero.
The steamy scenes are perfectly balanced with tender moments that make their growing connection feel real and raw.
With its engaging storyline and well-written characters, Keep Me is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.
It’s funny, emotional, and irresistibly spicy.

Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley , opinions are my own

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆, 𝑺𝒚𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒆,” 𝑰 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓. “𝑰’𝒎 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔.”
“𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆.”

This is a highly tension filled enemies to lovers story that follows Sylvie Devereaux and Killian Barclay. And Sara did not hold back on how much these two loathed each other’s presence in the beginning. Their unexpected run-in sets the stage for a highly addictive marriage of convenience story that has you flipping the pages to see if these two will be able to coexist.

Killian is our reclusive, brooding Scotsman, burdened by heartbreak, who seeks comfort and solace in indulgence. He pushes everyone away and has no desires for any connections outside his home. Until our fierce and independent Sylvie enters just trying to figure out how to survive the next year with this brute of a man and walk away $10 million richer.

Sara masterfully creates a relationship balancing between our character's fiery disdain to delving further into those tender moments within the walls of Barclay Manor. While they each had to battle their own inner demons that led to an emotional third act breakup, the healing within their journey keeps the reader invested awaiting the final outcome.

This is not the typical writing Sara may be known for, but it was without a doubt a beautiful story that needed to be told. And I’m hoping there will be more to come in this series!

This was such a different book from Sara’s usual as it takes place in Scotland and there are no spicy clubs in sight. Instead, we get the story of two broken humans who find themselves conveniently married and both on different journeys to find themselves. While there is still spice and kink, I’d advise readers of Sara’s to go in with an open mind that it is different from her usual. The spice is still there, it is just different from what you are used to (in an equally good way).

After breaking into a manor home in Scotland to find the typewriter of her (now ex) boyfriend’s grandfather, Sylvie Devereaux can’t stop thinking about the handsome, albeit terrifying, rogue who caught her - Killian Barclay. When his sister shows up with a proposition for marriage in exchange for a large sum of money, Sylvie jumps at the chance. Her life in NYC is a disaster, so a year in Scotland sounds grand, even if the plan is deceptive towards her soon to be husband. But over the course of the year, Sylvie finds there is more to this brutish man than meets the eye and she starts to regret her role in his family’s plan to deceive him.

This book truly was addicting to read in the best way. At the beginning of the book, both characters were a hot mess. Sylvie was an entitled brat who I would happily throw into a loch and Killian was equally mean and garish. This book really is such a dislike to lovers book, with them insulting each other and barely putting up with each other’s presence. They both had so much growth that needed to happen, and like all great Sara Cate novels, they did. Killian is dealing with trauma from his parent’s death and has developed agoraphobia. Sylvie is dealing with some terrible parents and everything that comes with that. I enjoyed seeing them both grow and become better people in this book! And while the spice isn’t quite sex club kinky, it was still soooooo good.

I also was able to listen to part of the book on audio and the narrators are phenomenal! Will Watt has such a good Scottish brogue, so I’d highly suggest listening to it if you can as well! Makes for a whole different experience!

I'm always excited with the thought of a new Sara Cate book. The idea that Keep Me would be set, at least partially, in Scotland raised that excitement tenfold.

As the first novel in the Sinful Manor series, the story of Killian and Sylvie is thoroughly enjoyable and not nearly as spicy as I would expect a Sara Cate book to be, but top notch nonetheless.

I really enjoyed the research done to make the Scottishness of this book stand up to the beady eyes of a fiercely patriotic Scottish lass.

There are so many swoon worthy moments during the telling of this tale where Killian has Sylvie's back and melts my heart each and every time.

I can't wait to see who and what is next from the Sinful Manor.

𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝑴𝒆 was a really good read and I loved Killian and Sylvie relationship. They're both grumpy and the bickering as foreplay was so much fun to read !

There's more layers to them and I loved both how their relationship evolved as they got to know each other, and their own characters development.
I absolutely loved Killian, he stole the show for me !

The marriage of convenience/enemies-to-lovers vibe was everything !! The chemistry between them was amazing and the spice was, as always with Sara Cate, SO good 🤤

I wasn't expecting the book to be organized in parts (I think there's 4), each part being Killian's or Sylvie's pov, and I have to say it was not my favorite... They were some moments I really wanted the pov to switch so I could know what the other was thinking.
But still the book was very good and in a way having the book separated in part helps creating the tension between Killian and Sylvie, which is good !

I was hooked from the very beginning. They truly could not stand each other and I loved it. Their little nicknames for each other were so funny and I love them. They slowly got to know each other and understand who the other person is. They just needed someone to show them love. I am obsessed with Killian telling off Sylvie's parents, someone needed to do it. The break they had was necessary but hard to read. They just loved each other so much.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I love the banter between these two. The way how they met to how their story became to be. The growth of the characters to the growth of their relationship. I’m here for it

Absolutely loved and devoured this book! Sara Cate can do no wrong in my eyes.

I loved the characters, their romance and of course the Scotland setting. I love reading marriage of convenience stories and Cate does the trope justice. Killian and Sylvie were a delight to read about. If you want a romantic story with grumpy x grumpy, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience and age gap, this book is definitely for you! Plus there are so many swoon worthy quotes, I highlighted so much!

The spice delivered, but that's no surprise I mean this is a Sara Cate book after all lol. The spice was hot and intimate. I really liked how it was incorporated into the story. It never felt like it was there just to have spice ya know?

A wonderful romance story! This is the first in a series so I cannot wait to see what else this series has in store. A fantastic beginning! Highly recommend!!!

This book was fantastic! Sylvie and Killian were wonderfully grumpy and unique characters. The marriage of convenience trope was given a nice, fresh twist. I especially appreciated how well the author captured Killian's struggles. While I wasn't initially sold on the third-act breakup, it ultimately made sense for the story's resolution. This is some of the author's best writing, and I can't wait to see what's next in the series.

(4.5 stars) "If I let Killian get hurt, I will never forgive myself."

I am seriously torn about this book. It felt like the author created a smokescreen for 70% of the book before getting to the heart of the relationship. So I was frustrated early on but by the end, I couldn't imagine it working any other way. And the resolution was beautiful and worth getting to.

Killian and Sylvie are cut from the same cloth - the personality of nepo babies on the edge of being cut off by their families. It would be easy to write them off as unlikable, as the people in their lives do. But stick around and you'll see the two tear at each other's defenses enough to see what's inside. They're both incredibly hurt and and find a way to be each other's champion. For anyone who feels like the black sheep in their circle, this will feel very rewarding.

I think fans of Sara Cate enjoy her bold exploration of untraditional spaces. The scandalous story here is that Killian used to throw raging swinger parties! He has to navigate the awkward situation of introducing his new fake-wife to his old friend group. Sylvie pokes at the dynamic, unpacking what is consensual sharing and what is cheating. It's a small piece of the story but something new to explore for Cate fans.

My favorite element was definitely Killian's agoraphobia. He tries to hide his anxiety and panic attacks but he hasn't really left his property in 10 years. His triggers are nuanced and creates this delicate opportunity for Sylvie to help. I love when romantic partners help each other get unstuck. You can feel the care and mindfulness that went into this and it was a very fulfilling storyline.

I really enjoyed the book however SPC has given me such high standards😅 i was expecting a bit more spice. Nevertheless I think it’s still a great book. The characters are amazing and there is a great plot.

This book follows Killian, aw broody Scottish man. And Sylvie who is in financial problems and has hit rock bottom.

It was supposed to be an easy arrangement for Sylvie to make a lot of money. But it turned out a bit differently when they got feelings for each other.


💙 enemies to lovers
♥️ forced proximity
💙 grumpy / sunshine
♥️ marriage of convenience
💙 he falls first

IM OBSESSED
Now as a spoiler- I’m a HUGE Sara cate fan. And this was no exception.
It read a little differently than some of her other books- but in the best way possible.
It felt like all the comforts of a hallmark movie but with the Sara twist.
Killian and Sylvie are amazing. They really matched each others crazy.
I wasn’t prepared to get attached so quickly, and also for my heart to get ripped out so violently. But I also think I cried harder after that happened because it was the sweetest thing I may have ever read.

Keep Me is book one in the Sinful Manor series. This book follows Killian Barclay and Sylvie Devereaux.

Killian just wants to be left alone in his manor. One day, Sylvie sneaks into Barclay manor on a trip to Scotland to get a glimpse of a family heirloom, she did not expect to come face to face with the brutish scot. Weeks after the incident, Sylvie, who has been going through a rough spot, accepts an offer for ten million dollars if she moves to Scotland and marries Killian for a year to help with his reputation. The contract she signs entails way more details than Killian is privy to, but his family believes this is for his own good. What they didn’t expect was to actually fall in love.

I seriously loved this book so much, and I honestly read it slowly so that I could process everything. This book felt different from her others but not in a bad way at all! It was more mild but still had the spice and chemistry we all love from Sara.

Killian and Sylvie at first hated each other but slowly over time grew to love one another. I loved how their jabs at each other were heat filled at first, but over time became playful. Their chemistry was there even through all the heated arguments. I loved reading Killian and Sylvie’s journey because they both had demons to overcome, but they became better people because they had something to fight for. I can’t wait to continue with the rest of the series, this is just the beginning!

You will enjoy this book if you like the following:

- Marriage of Convenience
- Grumpy X Grumpy
- Kinky Vibes
- Scottish Broody Billionaire
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Age Gap (25/37)


Thank you, Sara Cate, Sourcebooks, and Hambright PR for the gifted copy.

As per usual, I absolutely loved a Sara Cate novel. I loved that this was a step away from both SPC and the club focus in The Goode Brothers series. I definitely think there’s potential for that to be brought into the story based on the little hints we got throughout the book (and maybe other hints we’ve gotten else where??). The literal only reason this lost even half a star for me is that one of the names that Killian calls Sylvia in the beginning made my eyeball twitch (and no, it’s not the C word you think). But overall, I loved the tension between the two characters. I loved that at the end of the day Killian was just someone dealing with trauma who needed someone to meet him where he was, really to even understand where he was starting from. And haven’t we all been there? (No? Well, I’ll speak to my therapist about that). I’m really excited to see where this series goes and how we see more of the other characters mentioned throughout the book. I literally sat and read the last 75% of this book in one sitting. I cried during one specific conversation at like 90% (like a lot). And I just loved the love between the two characters (once they finally acknowledged it - but loathe to love will do that to you).

Sylvie Devereaux is the daughter of two famous but terrible parents that has caused her to create this tough exterior that keeps everyone at arms lengths. She has grown up rich and spoiled doing whatever she pleases until she gets cut off from said parents.

She’s on vacation with her boyfriend in Scotland and decides she’s going to sneak into Barclay Manor to get a picture of a famous typewriter that was supposedly an heirloom. She has a very unconventional and horrifying meet cute with a very angry Scotsman.

Killian Barclay is a secluded angry man drowning his heartache in drinking and debauchery turning his ancestral home Barclay Manor into a family disgrace. Killian’s family is determined by any means necessary to stop him and regain their home.

I wasn’t anticipating the emotional turmoil that this book would put me through. I loved the banter they had toward each other. Their hate for each other was palpable. Then there’s Killian, a broken man that you just can’t help but fall in love with. There is so much more than meets the eye with him. My heart broke for him. Sylvie is just as shattered. She comes across as a spoiled brat but she really is just hurting and lonely. She grows so much by the end of the book. This is book one in the Sinful Manor Series. I can’t recommend this enough. It is a very raw and emotional read. I loved it.

Tropes
💍 Marriage of Convenience
🖤Grumpy X Grumpy
💍 Kinky Vibes
🖤Scottish Broody Billionaire
💍 Enemies to Lovers
🖤Forced Proximity
💍Age Gap
🖤Mental Heath Rep

Thank you @saracratebooks, @hambright_pr and @netgalley for this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

This story was entertaining and a good read to add to your TBR if you are a Sara Cate fan. The plot of the aunt and what would happen with the house kept me engaged throughout the story and the development of the relationship between Sylvie and Killian was one I was glad to see grow.

That being said, this one definitely took me a minute to warm up to. The FMC and MMC are absolutely HORRID to each other in the beginning and definitely makes for an almost "can't stand-to-lovers" type of feel. The way they spoke to each other in the beginning is honestly what made it so hard to get into the story at first. The MMC calls the FMC names, that to me, would just be hard to imagine turning around into a relationship? There were also some areas in the book that I found to be repetitive (how many times Killian was described as large, huge, massive, etc.) or mismatched from the original description which led things to be confusing.

This book does have spice in it, although maybe not as much as some seem to have been expecting based on tropes. Keep Me was definitely a much lower spice level than other works by Sara while still containing open door spice, build up, and dirty talk!

Overall I would recommend!

*Thank you Sara and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC*

When Grumpy met Grumpy...

And they hated each other. Yet, they married for a year. Killian is grumpy and just plain mean to Sylvie. Sylvie is also grumpy, a New Yorker, while Killian is a Scot. He's notorious for his swingers parties. But he needs to clean up his dirty image and Sylvie is offered an outrageous fortune to marry him for a year. Some spice, swinging, then, Mine.

Sylvie is an independent spitfire and Killian is a grumpy recluse. She needs a change, he needs to please his family, so naturally they had to get married! It was definitely a wild ride as they navigated their situation. This is an interesting new world from Ms. Cate, and I’m intrigued to see where it goes.