Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Highest Bidder

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Highest Bidder by Sara Cate

62 reviews

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.

Content Warnings

emilysbookedup's review against another edition

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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

thecajunbookworm's review against another edition

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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

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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.

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katiehasanxiety's review against another edition

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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

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chelsearose's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

3.0

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kristynpittman's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

SPC is one of my favorite romance series and I have eagerly been anticipating Ronan's book. He made such memorable appearances in the first 4, that I had high hopes when we eventually got his own story.
While this book was fun and steamy, the main reason it fell a bit short of the main series was the lack of backstory. Ronan is such a mysterious man, and unfortunately that mystery is never really solved. As a 56 year old billionaire I just know he had a wild life, but so much of this book focused on Daisy. Daisy...the 2o year old stalker. (Can you tell Daisy wasn't my favorite?)
I still think fans of Sara Cate and The Salacious Players Club will still enjoy this one! Especially if tropes like age gap, sugar daddy, mom's ex-bf, etc, are your cup of tea.

*Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy for review

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sarahsbookstacks's review against another edition

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challenging 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

3.5

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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

kaitlyn_readsbooks's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

Sara Cate has done it again.

I was hesitant going into this book with the significant age gap (35+ years). I’m not a big fan of age gaps unless it’s with a 500 year old Fae male 😂 But Sara did this so freaking well it become a non issue for me.

Ronan and Daisy are such wonderful, complex, and lovable characters. You can’t help but fall in love when them and root for their relationship. They have both been through so much and they are able to help one another is such a beautiful way.

This book had me kicking and squealing when in reality I had no business acting that way over this book!!

Once again Sara Cate brings light to another k!nk to explore because in 2023 we do 👏🏻 not 👏🏻 k!nk 👏🏻shame 👏🏻 Highest Bidder explores the Daddy k!nk and I was not at all prepared to be into it as much as I was 🫣 That being said, the spice was SO GOOD 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I love the way Sara Cate writes. She brings light to diverse subjects in such an amazing way and this book was no different. Daisy was one of my favorite characters so far, right up there with Mia and Maggie.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was two little things in the ending. They were really little but it just soured the ending for me. Really it was my own personal preference and I won’t spoil anything for you.

Thank you to Sara Cate for this ARC! Highest Bidder hits shelves March 24!

✨Highest Bidder (Salacious Players Club#5) ✨

📚 Romance, Age Gap, Daddy K!nk, Spicy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

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