This was a little tricky for me.
I love Sara's writing.
I love the series this book spun from.
But there just was something that was missing for me?
But i did like it.
4 stars for now 🤔

Sara Cate is my favorite contemporary smut author out there. She write the spicy scenes so well, I absolutely LOVE them. However, the main love interest in this one is not doing it for me. Too many red flags for me to fully get into it. So spice is 10/10 but plot/characters is a 4/10. Why is he so terrible?? Why does he make so many bad choices...a little too realistic for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC to review. This was my first dive dive into Sara Cate's spicy universe. Her characters, past and present, are well fleshed out, and I can tell how much time and love she's put into them. This is a great book for fans of the Salacious Players Club world!

I rated this book 4 stars and 3 chili peppers for spice. I loved this story and the characters. Jack’s grief over losing his wife had me tearing up in spots. I think the only issues I had with it were that 75% of the story was told from Camille’s point of view and Jack’s chapters were far and few between. I really wish we got more of Jack’s perspective because he was the reason I was so excited for this book. I also think the insta love/lust was a little hard for me to get behind but I guess that’s the beauty of a romance book. Still loves it and will be reading the rest of the series.

DNF @37% - I'm sorry but this went downhill pretty fast and when I found myself dreading to read further on, I knew it was time to put it away.

"So maybe if I tarnish and corrupt and defile Camille, she'll no longer appear to me like a ghost of the woman I married."

VS

"I have always found him attractive, but now it's clear the chemistry between us is so much more than that."

All of that only WEEKS after meeting each other. Throw a kid into the mix of this insta-lusty mess and you're left wondering what chemistry are they talking about, or what longevity this connection has. Spice was good but not enough to keep me invested.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Well this was a definite hot book! Dont read in public lol! I learned the hard way on the bus! It was always a lovely book dealing with greif and new romance!

She's a good girl who wants to be bad,,,

Camille wasn't there for the nanny job, she was there to return a lost letter. Only, she is drawn to Jack, the brooding, grieving father to his kids who he ignores. This book contains a wealth of grieving, a secret room (you know, the kink room) and a good girl who wants to be bad with Jack, who is a hot mess.

This was such an emotional and intoxicating listen. Jack, a widowed single dad running a kink club in Paris, completely broke my heart, while Camille, the accidental nanny, brought so much warmth and light into his world. Their connection was tender, forbidden, and incredibly steamy. I was hooked from the first chapter. What really stood out to me was how beautifully Sara Cate wove themes of grief, healing, and family into such a spicy, addictive romance. The letter-writing added an intimate, romantic touch that made their bond even stronger. The full-cast narration was exceptional; Jason Clarke and Meg Sylvan, in particular, made me feel every emotion. This audiobook was equal parts heartbreaking, healing, and deliciously hot. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have been meaning to read Sara Care for a long time, and I’m so glad I finally did! This is a second generation series, but I had problems with diving into this book before reading the previous series. We were given the perfect amount of information on the past series to set up these characters and storyline without being overwhelming or confusing. I will definitely read the Salacious Players Club series at some point!

Jack and Camille’s story was SO EMOTIONAL! I love a story that is grounded in grief, I think it’s so important to normalize grief and how it deeply affects every part of life. It was emotional, but also (of course) sexy, and sweet. Single dad, nanny, cute kid is my favorite, and this delivered! I can’t wait to continue the series!!

We're back with the Salacious Players' Club, only it's Gen 2! I didn't quite know what to expect form this book, but overall, it was an interesting, well paced r entry into one of my favorite clubs.

Jumping back into the world of Sara Cate was so much fun! Getting to see Jack all grown up and now figuring out his footing in the world as a single dad was so well done. It was such a wonderful story that showed the complexities of this new generation, and I cannot wait to see where these stories will take us!

Welcome to Salacious Legacy! Cannot wait for more!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

Jack is a single father - he lost his wife, and instead of processing his grief and moving forward, he buries himself in work, alienates those around him, and ignores his daughters.

Camille wasn't purposely applying to the nanny position, but once it's offered to her, she goes all in. Bea is a delight, and Camille loves her job. If only she could ignore her growing curiosity for Bea's father...The two become closer and start pushing the boundaries of what they mean to each other and how they interact. Jack had a plan to leave Paris for good once the club has failed or flourished, but Camille is making him rethink everything he knew.

If you're looking for something spicy with the specific kinks contained within, this is definitely worth a read. I was unfamiliar with the first generation that this series is based off - this can be read without that prior knowledge. It might add something to the story, but I wasn't lost.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

While I’ve enjoyed many of Sara Cate’s books in the past, unfortunately, The Good Girl Effect was not for me. I was initially intrigued by the idea of a single dad falling for his daughter’s babysitter. In fact, I squealed when my arc request was approved. I had such high hopes for this book, but in the end, I didn’t fall in love it.

One issue I had with the book was that Jack was not a likable character. Heavily grieving and negatively handling his emotions, Jack has all but abandoned his daughter and avoids healing. Jack’s grief is extensive, to the point where he punishes himself for living when his wife is not. Camille coaxes him out of the darkness, but she pays a price for it.

Another issue I had the book was the unbalanced power dynamic between Jack and Camille. When Camille expresses interest in bondage lessons, Jack begrudgingly agrees. However, Jack refuses to relinquish control. Whereas in Cate’s previous novels, bondage felt empowering, in The Good Girl Effect, it does not.

Speaking of the one-sided power dynamics of bondage in this novel, one of my major complaints is how a demonstration at the sex club was handled. While previous books have handled this topic very well, I wasn’t convinced that Camille wanted to be on display. Tradionally, in Cate’s novels, if an fmc feels hesitation, their desire to be on display outweighs their hesitation. I do not believe the same can be said for Camille. Jack had previously mentioned that he wanted to bring Camille to the club and put her on display, there is no on-page discussion of how Camille feels about this. Instead, when they arrive at the club, Jack is insistent on displaying her and she goes along with it because it is his will. I feel that the book would have benefitted from having a scene where Camille and Jack talked through the scene, and Camille’s viewpoint was accessible.

Overall, the imbalanced power dynamic combined with Jack not being a likable love interest threw me off. I was not expecting the next generation of the Salacious Player’s Club to lose the values which kept me hooked from the original series. At the time of writing, I am unsure if I will give book two a chance.

The Good Girl Effect by Sara Cate is exactly the kind of cheesy-but-spicy romance I reach for when I want pure escapism. Bit odd to learn about the 2nd generation in a sex club family business, but just like the Salacious series, it has that perfect mix of easy reading, addictive drama, and very good spicy scenes that keep you flipping pages way past bedtime. Sure, the plot is a little over the top (in the best way), but that’s half the fun, it’s indulgent, steamy, and totally bingeable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing the ARC.

I don't know what Sara Cate puts in her books, but every time I read one, I am always sucked in by story that is equal parts devastating and hopeful that I don't know what to do with myself afterwards.

Does this book feature an age-gap romance between a rich business man and the woman who gets mistaken for a nanny? Yes.
Is this book an exploration of kink, shibari, and other types of BDSM? Yes
Does this book have emotional depth, painful realizations, character growth, and more? 1000% yes

Sometimes those spicy books that people decry at the first chance are just as poignant as the high brow literary fiction that win awards every year. This book showcased one man's healing journey after the loss of his wife and one woman's exploration into a world that she didn't realize existed before her. Jake and Camille hurt and struggle with the bounds of their relationship and their positions in life throughout the book, and the resolution is something that is deeply satisfying. There are very real, very meaningful discussions surrounding the death of a loved one and the impact it has on someone's life. These two find a way to heal each other, but more importantly, themselves through the exploration of kink and this book series is absolutely a must read.

I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the Legacy group.

Welcome back to this amazing world !! I am so happy I got to experience the new generation!! She has given me sample and I want more from all of this ! The characters were so fleshed out !! THe smut was incredible and I am so excited to how Legacy is really created!!

Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by this book. I finished it about two weeks ago and have been delaying my review as I try to make sense of what I think about it. Im still not sure if it’s just the plot or the age gap in the romance but I really struggled. I just didn’t love the FMC. She seemed even younger than she was supposed to be and the MMC’s attraction just didn’t make sense to me. That said, this was well written and another reader might absolutely love it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely a slow burn in my opinion, not much is happening until about 60% in. Once the action does start to happen, there is plenty of spice and anticipation to go around.

Overall, there were some things I really did not like. Jack St. Claire is not a likable character, so much so that he allows his grief to overcome him and essentially neglect his daughter, Bea. I don't really see how Camille is attracted to a character like that, much less one that adopted her dead father's nickname for her. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see enough of a connection between the characters for a relationship to begin so it was difficult to get into the story.

Book one of the Salacious Legacy series takes us into the future, where the next generation of the Salacious Players are handed the reins of one of the Paris Clubs. The question is can they carry the weight of their family’s reputation and build something lasting, or will it all come undone?

This novel is a vibrant mix of playful, flirty energy with an undercurrent of deeper themes that explore love, loss, and resilience. A journey of grief, trauma and healing smothered in a fun, flirtatious, sexy and salacious hug.

At the center, we follow Camille, whose chance discovery sets her on a path that intertwines with Jack’s complicated world. What unfolds is layered with chemistry, vulnerability, and the challenge of opening yourself up after heartbreak.

Cate doesn’t just deliver the spice—she crafts characters whose struggles make their connection all the more gripping. The Good Girl Effect is a sultry, emotional ride that leaves you eager for what the rest of the Salacious Legacy series has in store.