4.5/5
Very rarely do books bring me to tears. But this was pretty close at one point. Shocking. Especially wasn’t expecting it from a smut book.

A steamy enemies to lovers, dual POV, forced proximity, marriage of convenience romance set in Scotland that sees a broke American aspiring writer making a deal with an agoraphobic reclusive grumpy Scotsman's family in order for them to trick him out of the family estate.

Good on audio narrated by Kelli Tager and Will Watt, this book has great panic attack and grief rep and also includes graphic consensual sex (ie light BDSM). My first by Sara Cate, I enjoyed it more than I was expecting and liked the Scottish setting, the male narrator's accent and the mental health and therapy rep.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Sylvie and Killian!!!! Oh my gosh I loved them so much. They were so wonderfully grumpy and just such fun characters overall. The twist on a marriage of convenience was great and a nice unique twist. Beyond that, I think Sara managed to capture Killian’s struggles very well! It was so nice to read a book that I felt like had such well-rounded characters and conflicts. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the third act break-up initially, but as the story began to wrap up, I came around and was able to see why it needed to happen how it did. The narrators for the audio were literal perfection. I just loved them and how they so beautifully portrayed Sylvie and Killian. I am looking forward to the next book. I think this one was some of Sara’s best writing and I can’t wait to see how she keeps growing with this series.

Rating: 4.25/5
Steam: 3.5/5

Thank you to Dreamscape and Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Stop it—I love them so much! This book hit all the right notes for me, especially with its marriage-of-convenience trope. Sylvie and Killian’s hate-to-love tension was palpable from the start, creating a dynamic that hooked me immediately. The banter between them was sharp and engaging, and the spice? While it was a bit tamer than what long-time Sara Cate fans might expect, it was still satisfying for a traditionally published novel. For those familiar with her indie work, you might sense she held back a bit, but it didn’t detract from the chemistry these two shared.

Sylvie and Killian’s connection felt authentic, rooted in their mutual struggles to overcome past traumas and family issues. Their vulnerability deepened their bond, and it was heartwarming to see how kind and supportive they became toward each other as their story progressed. The third-act breakup was emotionally charged but didn’t feel over-the-top, making their eventual resolution even more rewarding.

Narration: Kelli Tager and Will Watt were phenomenal narrators, truly bringing Sylvie and Killian to life. Kelli’s performance captured Sylvie’s sharp wit and emotional depth perfectly, while Will’s voice gave Killian a commanding yet tender presence. Their delivery added layers to the story, amplifying the tension, humor, and heartache. The dual narration made the listening experience immersive, and their chemistry mirrored that of the characters, enhancing every moment.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Sara Cate or new to her work, Keep Me is an enjoyable audiobook that blends heartfelt romance, sizzling tension, and top-notch narration. Definitely worth a listen!

Quick Summary: A trauma recovery, general fiction/romance novel

My Review: Keep Me by Sara Cate is book #1 in the Sinful Manor series.

About the Book: "Killian Barclay is a grumpy Scottish billionaire who hates me…and now I'm his wife. Their marriage of convenience is anything but…"

An American and a Scot collide in a strange turn of events.

Killian Barclay and Sylvie Devereaux are two strangers who decide to enter into a marriage of convenience. Their explosive relationship detonates as soon as they truly begin to see each other. Though they fight against the intense feelings that they have for one another, their coupling is inevitable.

About the Narration: This book was narrated by Kelli Tager and Will Watt. I devoured it in one sitting. The presentation was flawless.

My Final Say: This was such an emotional read. The soul deep scars that Killian and Sylvie experienced were heart wrenching. Their need for control and calm in the face of such hard dysfunction was on such a different level; I never saw any of what they experienced coming.

I loved the character growth that came for both leads. What they faced individually and as partners, it was challenging. The pureness of what was discovered after such hardship was real.

Other: This was a mature read. Some of the content had a swinger angle that quite frankly was not needed, in my opinion. I suppose it added a layer that helped to understand the male character's mentality, in a sense. The overall outcome where the matter relates to the partners was unexpected. With that in mind, I would not hesitate to give this book a racy warning.

Rating: 4.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Status/Level: 💗💬
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was an amazing story. I look forward to continuing with this series.