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sarakeepsgoing's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Pregnancy, and Car accident
literarylily's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Child death
Minor: Medical content
homerus's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Child death, Death of parent, Car accident, and Cancer
sindi_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I ate this book right up.
Like all the other books in the series, miss sara cate don’t miss.
I love a good 10 year age gap, but this 30 year age gap was really gapping but I was not mad at it.
Daisy is such a lovely fmc. But daddy Ronan🥵😮💨, did not know he had a soft side to him based on his appearance in the other books. Nonetheless I enjoyed every minute and moment between the two😭
This series be so emotional though 😭😭? Got me tearing up on both they back stories, my god.
Like all the other books in the series, miss sara cate don’t miss.
I love a good 10 year age gap, but this 30 year age gap was really gapping but I was not mad at it.
Daisy is such a lovely fmc. But daddy Ronan🥵😮💨, did not know he had a soft side to him based on his appearance in the other books. Nonetheless I enjoyed every minute and moment between the two😭
This series be so emotional though 😭😭? Got me tearing up on both they back stories, my god.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death
jessiereads98's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sara Cate’s writing just isn’t very strong. Daisy is a basic two dimensional main character who I found incredibly cringey. I had to read far too much about her songs that weren’t good. Ronan was likeable enough as a main character, but again very surface level with not a lot going on. Everything that happened was predictable. Last, but certainly not least, surprise pregnancy trope is tired, never really a surprise to the reader, and just plain sucks. Authors should retire that one. Let alone surprise breeding kink.
This all could’ve been done without the weird detail that he had previously been in a relationship with her mother. The story realistically would’ve been the same if it was about two people working through their grief and unhealthy coping mechanisms.It ultimately doesn’t end up being why they break up. They break up due to their individual issues they need to work through. (Which I guess Ronan just never does? We never see him work through any issues, and he himself says that he hasn’t.) The line at the end about Daisy picking up where her mother left off and their hearts beating for the same man is also just weird, and squicks me out.
Additionally, I don’t understand why Daisy’s musical aspirations are made such a big deal of. Ultimately, she doesn’t go to music school like she dreamed, and it seems like nothing really comes of any music career for her. The impression I got was that she gave it up to be a mother to Ronan’s kids; which really makes Ronan’s comment about bringing a strong woman to her knees for him look bad.
This all could’ve been done without the weird detail that he had previously been in a relationship with her mother. The story realistically would’ve been the same if it was about two people working through their grief and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Additionally, I don’t understand why Daisy’s musical aspirations are made such a big deal of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Death of parent
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Car accident, and Medical content
bookbratkat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved everything about this book. Ronan and Daisy are electric, addictive, and so freaking cute. Sara Cate has worked her magic yet again!! Definitely read this if you’re looking for a cute, sweet, spicy story. Yes, there is a rather large age gap but Sara Cate wrote her characters and their dynamics with such grace and respect that I would forget about the age difference while reading.
Daisy and Ronan’s story honestly made me cry a few times with how honest and touching it was. I’m absolutely in love with this book and these characters and hope to read more about them someday.
You don’t necessarily have to read the other books in this series to enjoy this standalone! I think it makes the world the book is set in a lot richer, but it is a standalone so if you want to jump right in you totally can! It will definitely spoil some things from the previous books - it opens up with a "here's a quick catch-up of everyone from the previous four books" so...maybe read those before hopping into this one! They're all amazing, and all worth a read in my opinion.
Daisy and Ronan’s story honestly made me cry a few times with how honest and touching it was. I’m absolutely in love with this book and these characters and hope to read more about them someday.
You don’t necessarily have to read the other books in this series to enjoy this standalone! I think it makes the world the book is set in a lot richer, but it is a standalone so if you want to jump right in you totally can! It will definitely spoil some things from the previous books - it opens up with a "here's a quick catch-up of everyone from the previous four books" so...maybe read those before hopping into this one! They're all amazing, and all worth a read in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child death
emilysbookedup's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Child death
Minor: Vomit
thecajunbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol and Medical content
Minor: Child death
weelasswithabook's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
*** ARC received in exchange for an honest review ***
CW: graphic sexual content, cancer, grief, death of loved ones, deception, homelessness
⭐️ Age Gap romance
⭐️ BDSM erotic romance
🌶 Daddy kink
🌶 Impact play
🌶 Pleasure dom
🌶 Restraints
Okay this one surprised me...
The SPC series is widely known for it's extremely spicy scenes and having a true emotional connection. They are notoriously wonderful romance novels.
However, the whole tone of Highest Bidder felt extremely different (not in a bad way, just generally). This was much softer and emotionally driven with the themes of grief and loss pushing the characters through the story.
This didn't detract from the erotic content of the book whatsoever (for those who follow the SPC series more for the spicy aspects) in fact, with the softer tone, it created a more startling contrast when it came to the erotic content. There was plenty of spice and kink in there to 110% categorise is as an erotic romance 👀
My only criticism was the instalove (or more just a really speedily falling in love would be a fairer description) vibe I got. And this is simply a me issue, not a reflection on the standard of the book itself. I think had there been a little slower of a burn, the emotional connection between the two might have been a little more impactful in the long run.
The conflict in itself was pretty solidified right at the start, but there was that anxious anticipation of not knowing when it was going to crop up. So it saved it from being predictable. I liked that it appeared when it did and how it did because it really propelled the character's relationship into a flux. And it's not a petty miscommunication trope either, it's a biggie.
One thing I really appreciated was the fact that the heroine wasn't saved or left needing to be saved by the hero. She healed and grew on her own to come to terms with her grief and take care of herself.
I cannot wait to see what's to come next.
CW: graphic sexual content, cancer, grief, death of loved ones, deception, homelessness
⭐️ Age Gap romance
⭐️ BDSM erotic romance
🌶 Daddy kink
🌶 Impact play
🌶 Pleasure dom
🌶 Restraints
Okay this one surprised me...
The SPC series is widely known for it's extremely spicy scenes and having a true emotional connection. They are notoriously wonderful romance novels.
However, the whole tone of Highest Bidder felt extremely different (not in a bad way, just generally). This was much softer and emotionally driven with the themes of grief and loss pushing the characters through the story.
This didn't detract from the erotic content of the book whatsoever (for those who follow the SPC series more for the spicy aspects) in fact, with the softer tone, it created a more startling contrast when it came to the erotic content. There was plenty of spice and kink in there to 110% categorise is as an erotic romance 👀
My only criticism was the instalove (or more just a really speedily falling in love would be a fairer description) vibe I got. And this is simply a me issue, not a reflection on the standard of the book itself. I think had there been a little slower of a burn, the emotional connection between the two might have been a little more impactful in the long run.
The conflict in itself was pretty solidified right at the start, but there was that anxious anticipation of not knowing when it was going to crop up. So it saved it from being predictable. I liked that it appeared when it did and how it did because it really propelled the character's relationship into a flux. And it's not a petty miscommunication trope either, it's a biggie.
One thing I really appreciated was the fact that the heroine wasn't saved or left needing to be saved by the hero. She healed and grew on her own to come to terms with her grief and take care of herself.
I cannot wait to see what's to come next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Cancer, Terminal illness, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, Car accident, and Child death
katiehasanxiety's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent