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Keep #1
Keep
[Originally published on Vella, under the same title.]
"Keep me?" Lila repeated, incredulously.
"I thought yer lookin' for a lass to play wi' all o' ye," she clarified, looking back at Bear with wide eyes.
Bear smiled again, and shook his head.
"We've a roof in the mountains, but there arena any women there," he explained, rolling his eyes with a look of rueful suffering.
"Some of us want a woman, but we can share, aye? We're brothers," he shrugged and looked around the table with an easy smile, as though splitting a woman was a very normal thing for five men to do.
"Keep me?" Lila repeated, incredulously.
"I thought yer lookin' for a lass to play wi' all o' ye," she clarified, looking back at Bear with wide eyes.
Bear smiled again, and shook his head.
"We've a roof in the mountains, but there arena any women there," he explained, rolling his eyes with a look of rueful suffering.
"Some of us want a woman, but we can share, aye? We're brothers," he shrugged and looked around the table with an easy smile, as though splitting a woman was a very normal thing for five men to do.
285 pages, ebook
Published July 5, 2023
97 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 9, 2023
Can we talk about the unique and beautiful way this story unfolded? I was not expecting what happened to happen and I was here for all of it. I won't lie, it took me a minute to get really invested in the story but once it had my attention...
Oh baby, I was a goner!!
I am not sure if it is by design because this story deserves to be devoured without much information, but I am not going to go into the story. What I will say is that I adored Lila for all of her flaws just as much as I enjoyed her for better qualities. This wasn't one of those stories that is going to be smooth sailing, some parts might get to you so please check your triggers.
Michael Katz is a new to me narrator and while it took me a minute to warm up to him, I really enjoyed his narration style once the heart of the story was going on. Take this part with a grain of salt because everyone has their own preference on narrators and narration, and I really did enjoy his narration I just had to warm up to his style which is totally normal.
One of my favorite things about this entire story was the uniqueness of it. Often authors are praised for their unique style of writing while others are shamed for it and that bothers me. Take a chance on Keep and I promise you won't be disappointed.
*ALC received from the author in exchange for my honest review. *
Oh baby, I was a goner!!
I am not sure if it is by design because this story deserves to be devoured without much information, but I am not going to go into the story. What I will say is that I adored Lila for all of her flaws just as much as I enjoyed her for better qualities. This wasn't one of those stories that is going to be smooth sailing, some parts might get to you so please check your triggers.
Michael Katz is a new to me narrator and while it took me a minute to warm up to him, I really enjoyed his narration style once the heart of the story was going on. Take this part with a grain of salt because everyone has their own preference on narrators and narration, and I really did enjoy his narration I just had to warm up to his style which is totally normal.
One of my favorite things about this entire story was the uniqueness of it. Often authors are praised for their unique style of writing while others are shamed for it and that bothers me. Take a chance on Keep and I promise you won't be disappointed.
*ALC received from the author in exchange for my honest review. *
March 5, 2025
Absolutely not for me.
I don't know what I just read but I know I lost patience with enduring anymore.
So from what I've gathered the heroine is a working girl hooked on heroin, as are the men to be fair. The MMCs were or are soldiers...deserters...???? The timeframe is a jumbled mess.. All 6 of the characters want to make a go of it together. That my simplified take.
This is not an easy story to read, unless you are patient enough to allow your brain to read old English or whatever that was meant to be. I don't read historical fiction or non for that matter if I can avoid it. It's my fault I didn't take into consideration "iron age" on the cover.
Essentially what killed the story for me was the haphazard jumping of the storyline. Then the modern writing smacked in there as well. I just didn't find the writing style clever or intriguing. I have nothing against working girls but I don't find reading about it interesting when there is nothing more to it.
I don't know what I just read but I know I lost patience with enduring anymore.
So from what I've gathered the heroine is a working girl hooked on heroin, as are the men to be fair. The MMCs were or are soldiers...deserters...???? The timeframe is a jumbled mess.. All 6 of the characters want to make a go of it together. That my simplified take.
This is not an easy story to read, unless you are patient enough to allow your brain to read old English or whatever that was meant to be. I don't read historical fiction or non for that matter if I can avoid it. It's my fault I didn't take into consideration "iron age" on the cover.
Essentially what killed the story for me was the haphazard jumping of the storyline. Then the modern writing smacked in there as well. I just didn't find the writing style clever or intriguing. I have nothing against working girls but I don't find reading about it interesting when there is nothing more to it.
July 28, 2023
꧁𝐴𝑅𝐶 𝑅𝐸𝐴𝐷 ꧂
𝕂𝔼𝔼ℙ 𝕓𝕪 𝕁ℂ 𝔹𝕣𝕪𝕖𝕣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bayn and his brothers are soldiers, with bonds forged by war and hardship long before they agree to keep a woman together; but adding a woman to a pack of five is no simple matter, and neither is giving up an indulgent lifestyle to march into the wilderness with five rough strangers... but there are only so many happy endings for a wicked whore like Lila, so when she tumbles head over poppy for bloody, beautiful Bayn, all wagers are off... even if he would rather bed with his 'brother.'
∞∞∞∞∞∞
This book was not what I expected! I definitely recommend checking it out.
It was really good, especially once I figured out some of the lingo ( smoking poppy is getting high/stoned - kaf is coffee - 'spilled' is reaching climax )
Set during wartime, this is a why choose - outlander type read.
In this story, it's not WHO you love that's the
issue, it's the rank they hold in society.
KEEP follows 5 men, the wife they chose, and their background stories.
They need to have a wife to take to the mountains - why bother with getting each of them a wife ? They're brothers - they can share !
Lila is selected. She was a harlot. Like most women, she can be totally confident and completely uncertain about how to deal with her feelings for her husband ( make that 5 husbands. )
Bear and Eyan's found family/love for each other is a great side story.
* MM,MF
it is not MMFMM
𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝐽𝐶 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 & 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 !!
𝕂𝔼𝔼ℙ 𝕓𝕪 𝕁ℂ 𝔹𝕣𝕪𝕖𝕣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bayn and his brothers are soldiers, with bonds forged by war and hardship long before they agree to keep a woman together; but adding a woman to a pack of five is no simple matter, and neither is giving up an indulgent lifestyle to march into the wilderness with five rough strangers... but there are only so many happy endings for a wicked whore like Lila, so when she tumbles head over poppy for bloody, beautiful Bayn, all wagers are off... even if he would rather bed with his 'brother.'
∞∞∞∞∞∞
This book was not what I expected! I definitely recommend checking it out.
It was really good, especially once I figured out some of the lingo ( smoking poppy is getting high/stoned - kaf is coffee - 'spilled' is reaching climax )
Set during wartime, this is a why choose - outlander type read.
In this story, it's not WHO you love that's the
issue, it's the rank they hold in society.
KEEP follows 5 men, the wife they chose, and their background stories.
They need to have a wife to take to the mountains - why bother with getting each of them a wife ? They're brothers - they can share !
Lila is selected. She was a harlot. Like most women, she can be totally confident and completely uncertain about how to deal with her feelings for her husband ( make that 5 husbands. )
Bear and Eyan's found family/love for each other is a great side story.
* MM,MF
it is not MMFMM
𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝐽𝐶 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 & 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 !!
July 26, 2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Why choose
Spice: Yes 🥵
Series: Keep Series, book 1
Thoughts - think outlander meets why choose and this is the book for you. It’s set in a new world environment and follows 5 men and their individual/crossed backstory’s and the need for them to have a wife to take to the mountains *swoon. Lila MFC is as confident as she is uncertain. Just because she’s desperate for one of the men doesn’t mean any of them will treat her right but she’s also a little bored of her current place in life. Special mention to Bear MMC and Eyan’s MMC found family/love for each other 🥰 gives you all the feels. Definitely recommend if you after a historical world where it’s not who you love that’s the issue, it’s the rank they hold in society.
Plot - Lila is a lady of the night who’s addicted to the poppy, a life she is slowly growing tired of. So when a handsome man offers her the chance for her debts to be paid if she agrees to marry him and his four brothers (figurative brothers) and go live on the mountain with them, she hesitantly agrees to this new adventure.
* Early settlers/new world environment
* Soldiers and brotherhood
* Drug use
* MM,MF
* Found family
* Love whoever you love vibes
"D'ye like being lashed too?"
*spoiler, he does 😏😏😏
Genre: Why choose
Spice: Yes 🥵
Series: Keep Series, book 1
Thoughts - think outlander meets why choose and this is the book for you. It’s set in a new world environment and follows 5 men and their individual/crossed backstory’s and the need for them to have a wife to take to the mountains *swoon. Lila MFC is as confident as she is uncertain. Just because she’s desperate for one of the men doesn’t mean any of them will treat her right but she’s also a little bored of her current place in life. Special mention to Bear MMC and Eyan’s MMC found family/love for each other 🥰 gives you all the feels. Definitely recommend if you after a historical world where it’s not who you love that’s the issue, it’s the rank they hold in society.
Plot - Lila is a lady of the night who’s addicted to the poppy, a life she is slowly growing tired of. So when a handsome man offers her the chance for her debts to be paid if she agrees to marry him and his four brothers (figurative brothers) and go live on the mountain with them, she hesitantly agrees to this new adventure.
* Early settlers/new world environment
* Soldiers and brotherhood
* Drug use
* MM,MF
* Found family
* Love whoever you love vibes
"D'ye like being lashed too?"
*spoiler, he does 😏😏😏
August 14, 2023
We have to talk about this book. "Keep" is a beautifully written novel that will transport you straight to its setting on the first paragraph. The dialogue takes a bit of getting used to, and there are some terms that I wish were explained, but you'll find yourself thinking in a Scottish accent in no time. The characters are incredibly diverse and unique. I love that we get a bit of time with each of them to see a glimpse into who they really are. There is no MMMMMF orgy. Whether or not that's a bonus or detriment is up to you. I don't judge. 😏 Overall, this is a really great book! I would recommend it to lovers of historical fiction and romance who are open to all kinds of love.
Trigger warnings should include prostitution, abortion, and assorted violence.
Trigger warnings should include prostitution, abortion, and assorted violence.
December 1, 2023
This was a fun multi POV fantasy romance that I enjoyed getting to know the characters!
August 3, 2023
Spice: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Tropes:
Found Family
Military
Reverse Harem
MM, MF
Rough Play
Lila was a whore and always a whore at heart. She and others taken by the "poppy". Being kept by 5 men to be shared as their new wife just the start of it as she learns what life in the military entails as she falls head over heals in poppy, caf, and lust of marching to her new home, with her new family.
My personal opinion is if I can't set it down its probably a 5. Is there such a thing as a perfect book, NOPE, but to me YES there can be. Here is a few things I loved about this book.
- The characters did not need an added character, they were GOOD without adding someone but she made it better.
- Life sucks, its hard. The struggles and how they were portrayed were amazing, the details and how life in the military in the old times were not glorified. Men and Women were lonely, many times they didn't know if they would be breathing the next day was amplified in every text I read.
- Drug use was common and to see how it was worded, longed for, died for that next fill with whatever it takes, is something even common to this day.
- Men's emotions and Women's. Men can be loving and express their emotions without being scoffed/saying its gay, stupid not masculine. Women can be just as dirty, grimy, greedy as men.
- Bonds, and love can be without the feelings of lust. But lust can get you through tough times to fill a need and be addictive as any drug.
The times, dialect reminded me a bit of outlander. Which I LOVED.
Worth a read if you have the time :)
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Tropes:
Found Family
Military
Reverse Harem
MM, MF
Rough Play
Lila was a whore and always a whore at heart. She and others taken by the "poppy". Being kept by 5 men to be shared as their new wife just the start of it as she learns what life in the military entails as she falls head over heals in poppy, caf, and lust of marching to her new home, with her new family.
My personal opinion is if I can't set it down its probably a 5. Is there such a thing as a perfect book, NOPE, but to me YES there can be. Here is a few things I loved about this book.
- The characters did not need an added character, they were GOOD without adding someone but she made it better.
- Life sucks, its hard. The struggles and how they were portrayed were amazing, the details and how life in the military in the old times were not glorified. Men and Women were lonely, many times they didn't know if they would be breathing the next day was amplified in every text I read.
- Drug use was common and to see how it was worded, longed for, died for that next fill with whatever it takes, is something even common to this day.
- Men's emotions and Women's. Men can be loving and express their emotions without being scoffed/saying its gay, stupid not masculine. Women can be just as dirty, grimy, greedy as men.
- Bonds, and love can be without the feelings of lust. But lust can get you through tough times to fill a need and be addictive as any drug.
The times, dialect reminded me a bit of outlander. Which I LOVED.
Worth a read if you have the time :)
February 24, 2025
Idk why I kept reading. Essentially Lila has an incestuous relationship with her uncle, gets pregnant, goes to live with her aunt who runs a brothel to have an abortion and become a prostitute. Some ex soliders show up and pay off her drug debts to her aunt to take her as a wife in the country. She leaves with them and goes through withdrawal while they walk for days on end. Each guy has a sad backstory as a solider, most of whom shared beds with each other or want to share beds.
The story is written in like old English and can be hard to understand at times. And each chapter switches back and forth from the present to the guys backstories.
The story is written in like old English and can be hard to understand at times. And each chapter switches back and forth from the present to the guys backstories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2025
I feel like this would be more stars if it didn’t take me so long to get in the rhythm of the chapters and povs. Hoping the second I can just jump into since I understand better now.
Love how the characters are all very different and how their backstories are revealed little by little. Definitely an older setting than I’m used to as well. This could be great for someone else just not my normal style.
Check trigger warnings- while this was not bad at all to me I can see how others would be bothered if unexpected
Recommend for: why choose (for more than lust, a family of sorts), found family, historical romance
Love how the characters are all very different and how their backstories are revealed little by little. Definitely an older setting than I’m used to as well. This could be great for someone else just not my normal style.
Check trigger warnings- while this was not bad at all to me I can see how others would be bothered if unexpected
Recommend for: why choose (for more than lust, a family of sorts), found family, historical romance
September 8, 2023
What an interesting book.
The story was different from what I usually read, which was refreshing.
It showcased the complexity of relationships, the hardness of addiction, and the ugliness of some positions of power. It exploited human weaknesses but also showed how the right kind of people can give us strength.
I also liked how the male protagonists were open about their feelings, vulnerabilities, and yearnings.
The story was different from what I usually read, which was refreshing.
It showcased the complexity of relationships, the hardness of addiction, and the ugliness of some positions of power. It exploited human weaknesses but also showed how the right kind of people can give us strength.
I also liked how the male protagonists were open about their feelings, vulnerabilities, and yearnings.
November 18, 2024
Kept Me Reading
I started reading this book with few expectations, and that worked out well for me. I mean, the story was better than expected. I felt like the POV changes were a bit frequent and distracting, but the present story was interesting. And the characters, at least most of them, were well written.
I'd recommend reading it.
I started reading this book with few expectations, and that worked out well for me. I mean, the story was better than expected. I felt like the POV changes were a bit frequent and distracting, but the present story was interesting. And the characters, at least most of them, were well written.
I'd recommend reading it.
December 19, 2024
Readers who crave a rich and immersive fantasy romance with a strong focus on emotional depth and complex relationships will find themselves swept up in the world of Keep, where the boundaries of love and loyalty are tested in a tale of adventure, desire, and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood.
June 29, 2024
Such an addicting book! The characters are so well thought out and the story keeps you hooked. Can't wait to continue on with the rest of the series.
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