Sara Cate wrote a literal masterpiece. And the audio…oh my goodness, please bless your ears with the accent of Will Watt preforming as Killian. It is pure Scottish delight. Kelli Tager as Sylvie was just as enjoyable as well.

This story was just pure bliss from the first chapter. Sylvie is a mess and her life is a mess but she really gets a chance to find herself all while in this fake marriage she’s entered into with Killian, all while falling deeply in love and willing to give everything up for him in the process.

Justin incredibly written and incredibly spicy, all in the perfect spots and best of ways. Sara just knows how to write a book where the character and story will captivate you and take you away on a journey like you’ve never been on before.

Audiobook Review

💚 Hot Scot
🩷 Arranged marriage
💚 Slow burn
🩷 Enemies to lovers
💚 C*m play
🩷 Age gap
💚 Sp@nking
🩷 “MY WIFE”

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s been a while since I’ve read a really good Grumpy character, and Killian is the GRUMPIEST! But he has competition in that department with Sylvie who dishes everything he gives right back at him. It is crass, wicked, sexually tense banter at its finest. If you’re looking for Salicious Players Club-esque spice, that’s not what this book is about. Yes there is spice, but that’s not the focus of the story. This book contains two broken individuals who use anger to fuel their lives because of the trauma and lack of love that has made them who they are. They can be mean and spiteful, but that’s their defense mechanism. They are deeply flawed individuals full of untapped love, just waiting to find the person they didn’t know they needed. Killian and Sylvie are pushed together by some very interesting circumstances that end up being the best thing for them.

Breaking into a Scottish manor and running into a broody, bastard of a man isn’t something that Sylvie has done before. Thankfully her impromptu excursion was a one time thing and she won’t ever have to see that man again. That is, until his sister approaches Sylvie with a proposal. Marry her brother. For one year and ten million dollars, the Barclay family is asking Sylvie, a stranger, to marry Killian. The broody man in question thinks its to save his image, but his family has a different idea. For someone as down on her luck as Sylvie, this doesn’t sound like a bad proposition.

Neither MC was looking for love. Just looking for a way to get themselves through the rough situation. But in being forced to marry one another, they found something they were never intending on having. Never believed they could have. They fought each other for months, but the pull is just too strong. There were times that I got a bit frustrated with Sylvie and Killian, but that was while they were being bullheaded and continuing to hate one another. Once they gave into their attraction, it was no holds bar! I loved the protective and possessive natures of the two of them. They were willing to give up anything, stand up to anyone, for the other. They supported each other by being there, lifting the other up, encouraging, believing.

Keep Me is slightly reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast- the grumpy beast of a man in the large house who won’t, can’t leave. The independent, self-assured woman who enters his life somewhat haphazardly. The two detest each other, grating on nerves, sometimes on purpose, but ultimately they are drawn to one another. An opposites attract, yet perfect match. GAH! There is so much about this story that I want to relay, but it’s hard to put into words. Plus I don’t want to ruin it for anyone! Just, just read it!

This dual narration story is set up in parts. Each part being narrated by either Sylvie or Killian. Will Watt is an incredibly talented narrator who transitions FLAWLESSLY from one character to the next, one accent to the next. I adored his performance. When Killian was feeling protective, my gosh he emanated it! Each and every emotion was brought to life by Watt. And his Scottish accent…Holy smokes. It. Was. DIVINE. I didn’t want it to end! Kelli Tager is a new to me narrator. She voiced Sylvie’s part to perfection! Tager was able to bring the sass, snark, silly, sexy, and shameful feelings that Sylvie was feeling out, so that the listener felt them too.

Thank you Sara Cate for having me on your ALC team so that I can listen and review your books. It truly is such a gift! And you nailed it again 😏

💍“If I didn’t hate him so much, I might actually like him.”
🥃“Tell me to stop.”
💍“Let me say it again darling, you c*me so pretty.”
🥃“I need to be inside you Sylvie. I need to make you my wife.”
💍“My wife comes first.”
🥃“I’m gonna fill you up wife, make you mine.”
💍“Look how well you take me Mo Chridhe, like you were made for me.”
🥃“All mine. No one else can ever touch you, is that understood?”
💍“Then scream, Sylvie. You can scream all you want at me and I still won’t leave you.”
🥃“So no one else loves you, big deal. But I’m here Mo Chridhe, and I’m telling you I will love you enough to make up for all of them. I’ll keep you. And you can trust that no matter what you do I won’t let you go. Because you’re mine. Understand me?”
💍“C*me for me darling. C*me for your husband.”
🥃“You’re never more beautiful than when you’re fighting for yourself.”

🌶🌶🌶🌶🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 The absolute chokehold this book has had on me for the last 24 hours! I was hooked from the first chapter! Such a sucker for a Scottish accent “swoon”. Sylvie and Killian are 🔥. Captivating storyline that had me fully invested from the start. Fiery hot 🌶🌶🌶. Grabbed me by the heartstrings and made me cry multiple times(that almost never happens for me, I’m rarely ever a book crier). I cannot wait to see what happens next! (And I may also be running to read more by Sara Cate😜).

This brute scotchman made me cry and I adore him for it!!!
Sara Cate did it again, this time with two grumps that just needed some love and found it in each other. This book is so fun and HOT 🥵 and the audiobook narrators did such an amazing job transporting me to Scotland!

I’ve yet to read a Sara Cate book I don’t like so I wasn’t surprised this wasn’t any different, but I was surprised by how emotional I would get and it only makes the book better!

Sara Cate....just WOW!!!

Everyone please please please read AND listen to this one!

I love just about every single thing I've ever read or listened to from Sara, but this one has made it's way up to the top with Give Me More & The Home-Wrecker! It was so so good!

First off, the audio. GOOD LORD THE AUDIO! It is so frikkin' good! One of my top ones of the year! Will Watt as Scottish Killian....MELTED! Kelli Tager is also incredible as Sylvie! She brought her to life in such a great way!

The character development for both characters is PHENOMENAL! When the book first started, Sylvie was not my favorite...girlfriend was SPOILED and entitled and came off just a smidge selfish but I knew it had to be setting the stage for her growth and man did she! Over the course of the story I fell in love with her! I was rooting so hard for her by the end, she just needed a little love from a Scottish man ;)

Now Killian,,,,WHOAH! He may take the cake for favorite MMC from Sara & that's saying something! His development over the course of the story...wow! He was such a powerful character. So hurt, traumatized, not dealing with his grief or demons, lashing out or coping in unhealthy ways...but to see him change with Sylvie and how she helped him, seriously so fantastic and I just wanted to squeeze his big grouchy Scottish ass! I cried more than once for him.

Not going to give too many more details, because ya know, YOU NEED TO READ IT, but their story was full of enemy to lover vibes, hate to love, & the chemistry was ELECTRIC!

Eeeek. This was such an awesome enemies to lovers/marriage of convenience story.
I really loved Killian. He was so grumpy and really mean to our heroine. But don't be fooled. She gave as good as she got! The chemistry was off the charts, and I loved the character development so much!!!!
The third act break up was a bit cliché but I enjoyed it anyway.
I cannot wait for more from this universe!

Another Sara Cate novel to check off the list and she didn't disappoint again! What more could you ask for... A Scottish brute that has anger issues and an American girl that has her own set of insecurities and then they get married.. what could go wrong.. or right?

This was honesty so fun. I laughed so hard at Killian and Sylvie arguments. I will admit that the way they talk to each other is down right degrading and it may be hurtful to some that are reading it. But I did find it so funny and every time he called her names I just could imagine the look on her face. In the beginning of the book you honestly can't find a reason to like either one of these main characters and they are both deeply flawed with issues that run DEEP. But as the year goes by, they start to come out of their shells and you start to understand the way they are and feel for them. As always, Sara knows how to write a spicy book and she definitely delivers in this one as well. Funny enough, it actually seemed a bit more tame for what we have come to expect from her, but still so good.

Thank you to Sara Cate and her team for providing me with the ALC for this.

I'm honestly not sure why it's taken me this long to finally read a Sara Cate novel. After reading this I will definitely be moving those up on my 'tbr pile'. It took me literally no time at all to get hooked on the story and fall for Sylvie and Killian.

The character development and depth to Sylvie and Killian are completely out of this world phenomenal. IT not often you find such depth and development in a smutty romance novel but it was unmatched here. The grumpy banter and that turned to loving bullying is top tier for sure and genuinely added so much. Now, let talk about the spice... theres just something about a kinky Scotsman oh lordy. There was just the right mix of bdsm spice and plot that it didn't take away from the story at all.

The audiobook is definitely well worth the listen... the casting for Killian was probably some of the best audio casting I've ever heard. I do sometimes have some issue understanding heavy accents in audiobooks (especially since I'm one who ups the speed on audiobooks) but I had absolutely no issue understanding it here. The Scottish accent was so clear and sexy it definitely made this book so much better.

Keep Me is the first book in the Sinful Manor series. This book is about Killian and Sylvie and is told from both of their points of view.

Killian and Sylvie meet when Sylvie breaks into his house to get a picture of a typewriter for her boyfriend. They had some funny words, he broke her phone, and she was on her way. Then something happened and she's no longer with her boyfriend and has some issues with her parents.

Something happens and Sylvie agrees to a fake engagement/marriage with Killian. While Killian and Sylvie live together Sylvie realizes there is more going on with Killian than she originally seemed. I loved the banter between these two characters. What happens when their time is up? Will Killian and Sylvie have real feelings? Can Killian get past what happened in his past? Can Sylvie fix things with her parents?

I enjoyed this book, and am excited to read more in this series!

3.5✨rounded up.

For the most part I would say I enjoyed this. However both FMC/MMC were extremely Whiney, and immature and needed an immense amount of therapy stat. I love a broody grumpy man, but there draws a line when he’s verbally abusive towards her and calling her a cow and many other things. Let’s not forget about how the mmc is an actual a-hole and was basically actively cheating with his bffs wife?? I thought that was bizarre and I love a cheating trope. I listened to this when I was driving for work, and it kept me entertained for the most part.

I will say, the narration by Kelli Tager and Will Watt was fantastic! Both of these narrators were new for me but I really enjoyed Will Watt and his accent. I love a good Scottish accent and he did a good job.

What to expect:
- Marriage of Convenience
- Kink
- Forced Proximity
- Age Gap
- Enemies to Lovers
- Scottish MMC/Scottish setting

3.5✨
2.5 🌶️

Story rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 ☄️ (0-5) I bump up for public places/outdoor spaces, and they like it rough. The ½ is the paddle.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Sara Cate writes intense stories, and she totally captivates me. And these narrators, Kelli Tager & Will Watt, make the reader feel even more immersed in Sylvie & Killian’s story.
🤩 Arranged marriage for an American woman to a Scottish man in Scotland, billionaire family!
🤩 Quite the characterization. Killian is horrible. I’m not sure I can be made to love him.
🤩 Part two—Will Watt might make me looooove Killian, though!
🤩 I actually do love how he describes and thinks about Sylvie, and just wants to push her buttons.
🤩 House party! When they have to pretend in front of his friends! 🙌🏻❤️‍🔥🥵🌶️
🤩 When Killian wants to protect Sylvie from his drunk friends.
🤩 The back and forth enemies banter plus back and forth narration parts—just all the back and forth is intense!!
🤩 Sylvie is perfect for Killian & I loooooove how she’s perfect for dealing with Claire.
🤩 Just a peek! 👀 I’ll sweeten the deal. Yeah, I adore Sylvie!!
🤩 I’m a sucker for jealousy, especially when the party boy doesn’t want to share. “All mine.”
🤩 When they support each other. 🥰 I love them. I love him.
🤩 All the feels. 😭
🤩 One of the sweetest (still heart wrenching) third act breakups I’ve read.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Family hurt & trauma. They could probably use some therapy. Thank goodness there was some therapy representation for Killian.
💫 The paddle—it might be too much for me, but it didn’t last long.

This was so so good! The way Sara has me feral for every book she writes is an understatement I own them all and she’s definitely an auto buy author for me I love her work

Thank you Sara and Sourcebooks for the ARC & ALC.

“I never intended to fall in love with my wife.”

I’m not sure what I was expecting but this was different and I really loved it. A grumpy Scotsman. A spirited American. Two goals. One arrangement.

Sylvie and Killian enter into a marriage of convenience. One year. That’s all they have to last, yet for both, that’s 364 days too long. These two share some of the best hate to love I’ve ever read. Cutthroat banter. Sizzling chemistry. And it’s even better when you watch them slowly morph into something more.

Killian has his issues but so does Sylvie. Watching them both overcome and transform had me in my feelings. It felt like a monumental shift and it was done really well. I definitely cried.

Dual narration by Kelli Tager and Will Watt only elevated my experience. I was hooked from page one and couldn’t get enough. The accents and tone exemplified Killian’s and Sylvia’s distinct personalities and various range of emotions. This was a great listen.

“I need to be inside you, Sylvie. I need to make you my wife.”

“I picture your belly growing big with my child, and it just does something to me. I never thought like that before.”

“Just because I can do it without you doesn’t mean I want to.”

“I just need you, mo ghràidh,”

“Thank you for waiting,”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥

3.75⭐
3🌶️

.Marriage of convenience
.Forced proximity
.Caring when sick
.Hurt/comfort
.Scottish MMC
.Dual POV

I listened to the audiobook for this one, and it was the best decision ever. Both narrators were amazing, but the male narrator had a deep Scottish accent that could melt anyone. Sooooo good.

This isn’t my first book by this author, and while it’s not my favorite of hers, it was still a fun ride. Does it have much of a plot? No. Was it sexy? Absolutely, yes. And honestly, do we pick up books like this for the plot? Nope. It’s exactly what it promises to be: a steamy marriage-of-convenience romance with a splash of BDSM.

The only thing I have to add is about the FMC, Sylvie. She started off as a spoiled brat, and I wasn’t sure I’d warm up to her. But her character growth surprised me in the best way. She learned from her mistakes and turned into a strong, supportive partner for Killian, our tortured-soul MMC.

If you’re in the mood for something steamy and fun, this one’s worth a listen. Bonus points if you enjoy accents.

Audiobook review
Narrated by Kelli Tager & Will Watt

I’m blown away at how much I enjoyed this book. I went in blind as I normally do & I was so intrigued with the story from the get go, especially with the setting being in Scotland. Also hearing the characters’ accent made it a whole experience! It truly put me in the story and I felt like I was there watching it all unfold!

Killian & Sylvie fought so much and I truly felt a part of their journey as they broke each others’ walls down. Yes, Killian is an asshole but Sylvie lets him know as much and gives as good as she gets.

The writing and story telling in this book was so good! I loved it so much!
I found myself crying at one point 🥺 lol

Definitely recommend esp if you like:

- Marriage of convenience
- Hate to love
- Name calling
- Forced Proximity


Thank you Sara & team for the ALC copy. 🫶🏼

As someone who has read Sara Cate's Salacious Players Club books, this one was a little tamer than I was anticipating - but it was still so good!

The grumpy x grumpy dynamic of Sylvia and Killian was fantastic. Their "meet cute" - if you want to call it that - was hilarious. The deceptive nature of their relationship and the significant lack of trust from both made for so much entertainment in the early stages of their marriage of convenience.

But the best part was how much of a tortured softie Killian was beneath his grumpy, almost cruel outer shell.

Although I typically don't love a third act breakup, I ADORED how the ending came together on this one. The character growth and development for both Sylvia, but especially Killian was everything I didn't know I wanted.

The narrators, Kelli Tager and Will Watt were great. Listening to Will Watt's scottish accent was *chef's kiss* - he truly embodied Killian and brought his character to life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Cate and Dreamscape Audio for the ARC.

"𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐢𝐭. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨".

This review is for the audio version of this book which I DEVOURED it was so good.

Kelli Tager and Will Watt do such a terrific job and really elevate the story with their incredible narration. Blown away.

I absolutely loved this book. I'm already a big fan of Scotland and Sara Cate's books so the two things together made it a sure thing that I would be reading this and it did not disappoint.

Killian is a Scottish recluse living in his Manor and Sylvie kind of sort of breaks into his house and she runs into him. Soon after, his family see's an opening to get Killian to stop his lifestyle and get out of his house and convinces Sylvie to marry him for one year.

I LOVE a marriage of convenience trope. I especially love a marriage of convenience where the two characters just HATE each other. The banter is SO GOOD. And of course with the force proximity, these two were bound to catch feelings.

"𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐦𝐨 𝐠𝐡𝐫𝐚́𝐢𝐝𝐡"

It's spicy and k!nky as I would expect from Sara's books but with a more realistic take on it that I found really refreshing. Though I am wondering what happened to those parties...

I loved the deep dive into parental relations and Killian's agoraphobia. It gave the book a deeper more emotional depth that was needed and really twisted my heart in knots.

It was so tender and loving and just such a great book. And no one was knocked up by the end. All the stars.

Honestly PERIOD PERIOD PERIODDDDDD. 4.75/5 stars!
Sara Cate, I literally don't understand how you can so perfectly write a steamy romance.

I loved Cate's Salacious Player's Club series and this newest series is definitely going to deliver. Marriage! Of! Convenience! I was giggling, screaming, cackling during this audiobook. I absolutely loved the narrators and the SCOTTISH ACCENT YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING. I will be listening to this at least 5 more times this month.

I love the characters in this book. I love the banter. I love it all. (The only thing that brings book down is a nickname that Killian calls Sylvie. I don't love it so I must be true to myself)

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media. I am so excited for the rest of the Sinful Manor series!

Wow. Just Wow. This is the best book I've read in 2024. Hands down.

Sylvie is a lost free spirit, always craving something more; something that can spice up her humdrum life. She's searching for her happiness and purpose in life but she doesn't even begin to find it until her entire world implodes around her. After misadventures in Scotland, where she has a not-so-pleasant meet-cute with a Scottish brute named Killian, she is stuck alone with an ex-boyfriend, an ex-best friend, and estranged horrible parents. Unexpectedly she is thrust into the opportunity of a lifetime; an arranged marriage with Killian for one year for a hefty payout. Killian is a grumpy recluse who never leaves his home, and over the span of 10 years has turned the family estate into a house of debauchery, so when his family approaches him with this opportunity of an arranged marriage, he believes that the house will become his at the end of the year sentence. But Sylvie secretly has to sign his family home away to the rest of his family.

Their dynamic is volatile, aggressive and is the perfect example of the thin line that exists between love and hate. They hate each other so fervently and as their time together grows they end up loving each other just as fervently. They both face their biggest demons together, pushing each other to step outside their comfort zones, and supporting each other through their darkest moments. Choosing love over all their fears, for the sake of the other. When everything crumbles and they split, I WEEPED. I was beside myself watching them have to navigate their lives alone. But their reunion was perfection and their love is something that I think everyone should aspire to; strong, solid and unwavering.

I've talked about this before, but what makes Sara's writing so special is that while her stories are full of taboo and kinky spice, they are just as rich, if not richer in story and character development. The spice is not necessarily the focal point of the story, but how their preferences in bedroom activities speaks to the complexities of them as a person. The development of their relationship outside of the bedroom translates into trust and care in the bedroom, only adding to the depth of their love for one another. While this book is not as spicy as some of her past novels, its intentional, it brings the heat but serves so much purpose to their story.

Kelly Tager and Will Watt blew me away. If I could add applause sound effects to this I would! What a performance from them both and I love Will and his portrayal of Killian was fantastic, but Kelly stole the show for me. I felt everything that Sylvie felt viscerally and Kelly's performance brought that to life in a way I don't know I've experienced in an audiobook before. What a talent. Bravo!

The idea of getting paid $10 million for one year of marriage to a broody, hunky Scot had me hook, line, and sinker. Sign me up! However, the main female character, Sylvie, was so selfish, entitled, and whiny from the get-go, that I had a hard time getting into this one. I stuck with it because I was listening to the audio version and the narrators did a decent job of keeping my attention, even if the female narrator was a bit off on her Scottish accent at times. There was a definite 50 Shades of Grey vibe going on, but with a marginally better writing style. One other thing that bugged me was that I never really understood the tipping point from lust to love here--it seemed...arbitrary. In any case, it was mildly entertaining and a good one to listen to while driving back and forth to work (as long as you don't have any kids in the car!)