Reviews with content warning for Cancer - Highest Bidder

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.

Content Warnings

weelasswithabook's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings

haneyhayespr's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

adventurous, emotional, hopeful, inspiring, reflective, sad, 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

Ronan Kade, why can't you be real? I need you in my life. Because let's face it, if I found a guy like you, I'd get remarried in a heartbeat. I know you're all reading this like, WTF? Let me explain. Daisy is great, but this book-I was all about Ronan. My heart broke for him in the prologue and then again closer to the end of the book. This man has a heart of gold and deserves to be loved. When he was upset, I was upset. I feel so much for him. Get ready for this Silver Fox, I thought I wand, and I so wasn't!

Now I have to talk about these RULES. Ma'am!
Rule#4 You can't kidnap young women living in their vans-even with good intentions.
Rule#11 If you can't sleep in your bed, try his.
Rule#14 Play with fire, and you'll get burned.
Rule#30 Give her O's at work. If she gets fired, it'll be worth it.
These are just a few y'all have to look forward to.

Quote from the Book.

"Who do you think you are?" she argues. "You think because you're a man, you can just boss me around?"
Clearly, this won't work. I'll be thrown in jail within minutes if I try to abduct this flailing young woman and bring her to my apartment.

I was absolutely laughing at Ronan's thought process throughout this section of the book.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Child Death
Minor: Cancer and Pregnancy

Content Warnings

booksta_adventure's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative 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

5.0

📖 REVIEW 📖

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and I devoured it in less than 24 hours!😂

Ronan Kade. Ronan Kade. Ronan Kade.

My very brief synopsis: Daisy loses a bet, ends up on the auction block, Ronan bids $100k on her. Penthouse. Paris. Pleasure Dom!

It was so great to be back at Salacious. I just love the feels I get from these books.

So, I don’t usually like it when MCs fall so fast, but with the way these two are written, I was all in from the get go; I guess Sara Cate is just that good! 😊

The 🌶️ was, as usual, 🔥. But these books wouldn’t be what they are without the emotional connection between the characters. These two come together after having both suffered devastating losses in the past. They bond over their grief, and there are some emotional points that definitely left me a little teary eyed…

Now, I have to say, favorite scenes were definitely whenever Madame K!ink was involved, especially the scene in her private room…😉 Needless to say, I am now VERY much looking forward to her book, 𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘦, releasing later this year!

What this book is giving:

✅ Look at this AGE GAP: He’s 56, she’s 21

✅ Mom’s Ex

✅ Billionaire

✅ Daddy

✅ Pleasure Dom

✅ Sex Club

Look out for:

⚠️ Grief

⚠️ Parental Loss

⚠️ Child/Spouse Loss

Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

Thank you to Sara Cate for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warnings

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