Review: ‘Keep Me’ by Sara Cate
Keep Me
by Sara CateSeries: Sinful Manor #1
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on December 3, 2024
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eBook
Pages: 336
Source: Library - Libby
Audience: 18+/Adult
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Their marriage of convenience is anything but…
All Killian Barclay wants is to be left the hell alone. He's had enough heartache to last a lifetime, and he has no more need for love—earning him the reputation of a broody Scot and eventually turning his famous ancestral home into a den of iniquity. It doesn't take long for tales of his raunchy house parties to reach the rest of his family, though, inspiring them to hatch a plan to shake Killian out of his routine.
New Yorker Sylvie Devereaux is tough as nails—as the daughter of famous yet neglectful parents, she's grown a hard shell and keeps everyone at arm's length. So when she sneaks into Barclay Manor during a trip to Scotland to get a glimpse of a famous heirloom, she doesn't anticipate facing off against the brutish, maddening Highlander who lives there. And she certainly didn't expect to ever see the bastard again.
Yet just weeks later, she's approached by Killian's family with a proposal—move to Scotland and marry Killian to improve his playboy reputation, and after one year, she'll walk away with ten million dollars. Sylvie agrees, even knowing that their plan is more deceptive than he realizes. But as she grows closer to Killian and the end of their year together, she has to Is the love of a good man with a dark soul worth keeping, or is she willing to break Killian's heart now that it's well and truly hers?
I have been a fan of Sara Cate since her SPC series, so I was excited to read Keep Me, the first book in her newest series, Sinful Manor. I borrowed the book from my library through Libby, and I read it quickly. It is divided into four parts, which is different from the other books I’ve read by Sara Cate. However, it’s a dual point of view, so you get to read the perspectives of both main characters.
My Thoughts: I’ll be honest; I didn’t care for the main female character, Sylvie, at first in the story. She came across as a spoiled rich girl who was used to being taken care of by her wealthy parents, who were always busy in their art studio, but they technically didn’t raise her. I emphatized with her in that context, especially when it was revealed how awful her parents truly were. However, she was an adult and needed to start taking care of herself. As the story progressed, I began to understand her character better and found myself liking her, especially when she agreed to marry the difficult character, Killian. What really changed my perspective on her was the way she defended her husband against his family. She truly became a force to be reckoned with.
Here’s the thing: if you’re not a fan of alpha males, you might not like Killian. As someone who loves reading alpha males in romance books, I didn’t mind Killian’s behavior. He’s a grumpy individual who hasn’t left his family’s house in years, and he has his reasons. His family wants him to move out, but he is determined to prove that he’s not the person they think he is. He agrees to marry Sylvie in order to prove it for a year, but he’s not going to make it easy for her. However, as they spend time together, especially with his friends who were a part of his past party escapades, they discover they have some things in common.
I enjoyed reading about the development of Sylvie and Killian’s relationship, particularly how Sylvie discovered Killian’s interests. She became curious, but she was hesitant about the sharing aspect, which he had previously done with his friends. While there are some kinky elements mentioned, this book felt tamer compared to Sara Cate’s SPC series. There is some OW drama, but it is resolved fairly quickly, especially from Sylvie’s perspective. I empathized with both characters, especially when Sylvie had to conceal the true reason for her marriage to Killian. When the truth is revealed, Killian doesn’t take it well, which is understandable.
The book features a third-act breakup, but it didn’t bother me much. I appreciated how Sara Cate didn’t rush the characters back together. Killian needed time to work through some personal issues first. Ultimately, everything turns out well for the characters, leading to a well-deserved happily ever after. Killian will rediscover himself, thanks to Sylvie, and in turn, Sylvie will find her own identity as well.
Overall, this is a great start to a new series by Sara Cate, and I give it four stars. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series, especially since other characters were introduced, and I want to read their stories, too.
I am once again grateful to my library for having a copy of this book, which I was able to read shortly after its release. It helped that I tagged the book in Libby to receive a notification when it became available to borrow, so I didn’t have to wait long in the queue.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s an interconnected standalone in the Sinful Manor series.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoyed Sara Cate’s previous series, this new series will also captivate you. It features some fantastic tropes, including Marriage of Convenience, Grumpy/Sunshine, and Forced Proximity, and is set in Scotland.
What to Expect:
🏴Scottish Billionaire Romance
🏴Marriage of Convenience
🏴Grumpy/Sunshine
🏴Age Gap
🏴Forced Proximity
🏴Slow Burn
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