I fear this is my least favorite Sara Cate book that I've read. I appreciate that Sara was trying to break out of using adult clubs as a focal point for a series. I think the premise of the house being exchanged between the Barclay siblings (at least that's my assumption) is interesting and has the potential to be great.

My biggest issue is that these two are so toxic together and don't make sense as a couple at all. I didn't understand their relationship dynamic from hate to love. I think a lot of this had to do with the time jumps, which I get were necessary to move the story along, but it felt like we were missing key parts of their relationship. I wanted to see more of their relationship development, but we just got them going from hating one another, to being jealous but not knowing why, to full on love. It was confusing and didn't make any sense. I appreciate the work Killian did on himself to help them as a couple, however, I don't think they're making it past the epilogue.

Speaking of epilogues, I thought the one in this story was okay. It sets up the series for the next book, but it didn't do that great of a job of wrapping up the current story. I don't think it gave us insight into Sylvie and Killian's relationship a year later except that they're happy and spending time together in bed. I would've liked more about their lives together.

I felt confused by the parties at the manor. Not the content of them, but how it connected to Killian and Sylvie outside of the obvious. A lot of attention was placed on a particular person and Killian, but then nothing came from it. It was odd and didn't serve any real purpose.

This isn't plot related, but I didn't like the excessive use of exclamation points. Sara's writing is usually so great and I feel like she's able to get the emotions across without having to use exclamation points. This felt different from her usual style. The overuse of exclamation points really made the characters feel even more immature and childish.

Thank you to Sara for the early copy.

I love me some Sara Cate and she did not disappoint with this one!

I fun spicy time is what we always get from one of her stories.

Love this one.

Thank you very much for the ARC of this book. As promised, my honest review is attached.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It has several tropes that I like reading, but I do think that our grumpy, Scottish male was a little too grumpy. At times, he was down right mean. Being overprotective and falling for her does not make up for how cruel he was (verbally).

Keep Me by Sara Cate is a fun little romp through the Scottish countryside. Grumpy/sunshine with a little more depth and some forced proximity make this story more than just your typical Beauty & the Beast spin-off.

Horrible. Was it written in 2005 and republished now? I really wanted to like it if not love it but I was relieved to finish it and I will probably not pick up another book from Sara Cate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sara Cate truly does not fail! The hate to love trope is done exceptionally well! I am a sucker for marriage of convenience and having to write your own twist on that can be hard but it was executed amazingly! I was hooked from the get-go and I could not put this book down!

4 stars!

- forced proximity
- marriage of convenience
- grumpy x grumpy
- haters to lovers
- kinky vibes

I actually had SO much fun reading this, like just knowing that this broody, grumpy, Scottish man was going to fall down bad for her was EVERYTHING

I was fully entertained and invested throughout the entire story. I loved it!

Enjoyed this a lot. Fun marriage of convenience story with strong characters - Sylvie was a force to be reckoned with! Engaging writing, good storytelling and a good tug at the heart.

I loved this book and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it and I was hooked from the very first page. I loved the chemistry and attraction that Killian and Sylvie had and the banter between them was really amazing. This book was so good and didn't want it to end.

This book was not for me. Which is really saying something because I like all kinds of romance. Killian was actually the worst character ever though. Making him "overprotective" and territorial doesn't even begin to redeem him. Also all of the derogatory names that he called Sylvie just made me hate him even more. The only reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is because there were some portions of the book that Killian wasn't present for.

What does Sara Cate write that isn't good honestly? A brooding Scottish bachelor holed up in his castle & a pretty young American author who sneaks into his home to get a coveted glimpse of his family's rare...typewriter? Stay with me here! When Sylvie finds herself newly single, broke, and at an all time low, the offer to fake marry for money seems like a no brainer. It’s different, and I loved every single second. It was so much better than I expected. The angst was off the charts, and I couldn’t get enough. My usual complaint I wish it was longer!

This took me awhile to get into. The beginning was rough with Slyvie but by the time we find ourselves back in Scotland I was hooked to learn more. This was a hate to love and the MMC mouth absolutely went to far in my opinion but the FMC seemed to think it was a game of sorts. The sister which we really never learn her true motives comes to "help" her brother by bringing in the american girl that left an impression.

I did love how Killian expressed his love once he realized thats what he felt for Slyvie. I also loved how the relationship of her parents was left. It was a realistic way to show sometimes apologies dont fix everything and the damage can be too great. I also loved FMC unwavering love and support to her husband no matter what it cost her.

If you are willing to overlook the preposterous setup of this book, fans of dark romances will enjoy this one. If you are looking for an enemies to lovers romance with some light BDSM, you'll want to read this.

Oh, how I love a good Scottish romance! The accent... swoon!
Killian is the male character you love to hate, which makes for a fantastic enemies to lovers trope. Sara Cate never misses with the plot, banter and spice! You always know the book is going to be great before you even read it!

Killian Barclay cherishes his solitary life and deeply prefers to be left to his own devices. However, his family has different aspirations and brings in Sylvie Devereaux to coax Killian out of his shell. "Keep Me" is a steamy romance set against the enchanting backdrop of Scotland, yet it struggles with a necessary emotional connection. Killian and Sylvie embody the classic hate-to-love dynamic but fail to delve into meaningful character development. The themes of miscommunication and grumpy avoidance often hinder the plot rather than enhance it. At times, the pacing felt sluggish, and their interactions could have sparkled with more depth. Overall, though the dark romance intertwined with the Scottish landscape offers a tantalizing premise, it yearns for a more profound emotional resonance.

This book was phenomenal! Age gap with marriage of convenience is always perfect mix for me - author totally slayed this trope in Keep Me. This book shows a little different Sara but I loved every single word and couldn’t stop reading until I saw "the end". It was emotinal and suprising journey that left me speechless and in awe.

Killian is grumpy hero but don't get too excited before You will know Slylvie more! This two are not very different from each other - this time romance starts not with fire and flames. THIS time it's like collision between two very stubbron icebergs. They guard their hearts but when the love finally take the lead, they have any chances - the grump and the most stubborn girl can find their own private heaven too !

I loved so much this book - I truly felt like I'm traveling with Sylie across the ocean to find new life and happines. MUST READ ALERT.

This was my first Sara Cate book, and it definitely won't be my last! Loved the spice, the plot, the characters, all of it! I devoured it in a day! I highly recommend the audio because who doesn't love listening to a broody Scottsman...*swoon*. I'm definitely a fan.

The loove I have for this book can not be matched! I seriously loved every single second. I wanted more and more. It had me reading with a lady boner from all the hot tension and spice. Killian was so perfect with broodiness. Sylvie was a spit fire and I absolutely adored her.

Sylvie is an American in Scotland for a vacay with her bf. She breaks into a home to take a photo of a typewriter, she got caught by a hot giant scot. She goes back home and her world is turned upside down. She gets a knock on her door from a Scottish woman. She is the man's sister and she is here with a proposition Sylvie cant deny.

✨Read if you love✨
💚Grumpy/Grumpy
💚Enemies to Lovers
💚Marriage of Convenience
💚Forced Proximity

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Keep Me by Sara Cate!

Keep Me was a fun read that I, honestly, didn’t want to end. Sylvie, a bold and independent NYer, breaks into a beautiful mansion, Barclay Manor, and comes face to face with the irate owner. Reminiscent, at times, of beauty and the beast…the castle, the gruffness…I enjoyed the familiarity that brought to the story. An arrangement brings her back to the Manor and there she finds more than the typewriter she originally set out to photograph. Brought a smile to my face on more than one occasion…ahem, stairway and Christmas morning.This book was different than Salacious Players club…in a wonderful way. A story of found family and finding inner strength to work on mental health…perfect for fans of Sara Cate and anyone looking for a sweet and steamy tale.