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Grovewood Ink #4

Yours To Keep

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Prim. Proper. Perfect.

Magnolia Monroe was raised the perfect southern flower. But behind the stained glass of her ivory tower, nothing is what it seems. A lifetime spent trying to be what everyone else wants her to be has finally driven her to stand up against her mothers wishes. But at what cost?



Defiant. Dangerous. Disregarded.

Dalton “Iris” Murphy has always wanted someone who would take him seriously, someone who would understand his darkness and see through the mask he puts on for the rest of the world. A woman like Magnolia belongs with a better man. But when she needs help, he can’t resist the need to make sure she never wants for anything again.

Yours To Keep is Book 4 in the Grovewood Ink series, a fake dating romance. This book can be read as a standalone, however the experience will be enhanced by reading the previous books in this series. This novel contains content intended for a mature audience only. Due to explicit language, graphic sexual situations, detailed depictions of violence, and other possible triggers, reader discretion is advised.

284 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2024

3 people are currently reading
62 people want to read

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Sage St. Claire

5 books96 followers

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5 stars
39 (55%)
4 stars
23 (32%)
3 stars
7 (10%)
2 stars
1 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for ✨✨Toni✨✨.
10 reviews16 followers
April 25, 2024
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and here is my assessment. While it is the 4th book in the series, I was informed that it could be read as a standalone, but my experience differed.

Let's start with the positives: I loved the characters, and the chemistry between Magnolia and Dalton was engaging. The storyline was also interesting, with several elements such as insta-love, forced proximity, and fake dating(kinda).

However, I did not enjoy the book as much as I expected, primarily due to the confusion caused by not having read the previous books in the series. Additionally, Dalton's backstory felt underdeveloped, making it difficult to fully understand his character. While the story had great potential, the pacing was too fast, and I felt that the fake dating aspect could have been further explored. Overall, the book had its moments, but it could have been better.
Profile Image for Lerato Veronica  Sinxezi .
6 reviews
April 27, 2024
I received an ARC in exchange to my honest review.

QOTD: "It’s hard to see your worth when you’re standing so close to the problem."

My thoughts: In addition to the gripping and evolving love tale involving the unlikely duo, Dalton ( also known as Iris) and Magnolia, I am intrigued by the author's focus in raising awareness about body dysmorphia, self-worth and self-harm. The exploration of these mental health issues adds depth to the narrative and provides valuable insight into the characters' struggles and self-perception.

I could not for even a second put the book down. I finished it in one sitting. It is well written, The book offers fascinating blend of family dynamics, love, spicy sex scenes. It touches on a lot of important aspects of life life,love,pain loss, pleasure, self-acceptance, body dismorphia, self-worth and shenanigans of a greedy mother. 

This was an easy 4.5 ⭐. I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Jasmine Vasquez .
61 reviews4 followers
January 16, 2025
This was just what I needed to remember that you don't see yourself the way others see you. That loving yourself can happen while learning to love someone else at the same time. This was so beautiful and amazing. Just what I needed to believe in love again
Profile Image for Elyse King.
66 reviews3 followers
April 28, 2024
Sage killed with another amazing book in the Grovewood Ink series!

I love fake dating books, and this one was right on the money! Iris didn't hesitate to be there for Magnolia, and in turn, they got to see a different side of each other.

Magnolias mom is a grade A B**** and her dad loves her so much that he let's Magnolia get hurt by her and it's so sad! Reading as she starts to stick up for herself and be more of herself is amazing! I love how much Iris not only protects her but has her confidence rising as well! This friend group that you get to see unfold from book to book is the kind of friend group everyone should have!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christina Rybka.
1,129 reviews17 followers
June 4, 2024
I absolutely love this book

Magnolia and Iris have the same group of friends, and they are attracted to each other secretly. She is a good girl and he is a player. Iris is changing his life around when Magnolia asks him to be her pretend boyfriend. This starts a chain of events that make them both want to stop pretending and be together for real. Can Iris convince Magnolia that he wants her or will her insecurities win? Great character and storyline Highly recommended Amazing book. I love Magnolia and Iris and their dynamic and character development. This book has all the feels. Found family, sarcastic humor, twist and turns, and the spice is so good. I love this book and world.
Profile Image for Book Review Collective.
76 reviews4 followers
May 3, 2024
I have read each book in the Grovewood Ink series and each one has a special place in my heart. Sage is such a talented author and navigates trauma and triggering topics with such compassion. I look forward to reading every book she writes next. I read this as number 4 in the series and although you can read as a standalone, I highly suggest reading the series from the start. There is important background character information that flows onto the next and you will have a much better understanding and attachment to each character.

Magnolia is a curvy "good girl" who has been conditioned into obsessing over her appearance. According to her mom, she was never pretty enough, good enough, or small enough. Iris is a secret "bad boy" trying to secure a positive future for himself. He has never had anything serious and although he has his eyes set on Magnolia, he knows she deserves more than he could ever give her. Magnolia is desperate for help and Iris will be the first to step up and give that to her. Neither Magnolia nor Iris can predict the darkness that is to come.

I enjoyed watching Magnolia blossom into her own throughout this book. She faced some serious issues that I feel many women are dealing with. She trusted in Iris from the beginning and really gave everything to him and let him return the favor. Iris was a favorite for me as he had a sweet side that just sent me over the edge! Iris is a true alpha and is so patient to Magnolia. He gives her the space to grow all the while encouraging her through it. Their chemistry was intoxicating. Sage always incorporates some dark thriller like vibes in her books and I am obsessed. The twist did not disappoint. I love the depth she takes her books to all while keeping the romance the main story. Consistently a wild ride when reading one of her books in the most amazing way.
Profile Image for Amanda  Mijares❣️.
131 reviews12 followers
May 6, 2024
The is definitely one of my favorite series. With each book, I say it’s my favorite but now I gotta say this is now my favorite! 🤭

I’ve been patiently waiting for this story and oh my, it did not disappoint!

We have Magnolia Monroe. She is expected to be the perfect southern lady and was literally told by her b*tch of a mother she was born to be the “perfect wife” and puts her down at every chance she gets. She arranges her to be married but Magnolia wants nothing to do with that lifestyle and just wants to be independent and be free to be who she wants but it’s not easy as it seems.

Dalton (Iris) Murphy to the rescue. He’s the known player and bad boy. Tatted & smooth talker and he had his eyes set on Magnolia for a while but feels like she’s out of his league.
He doesn’t hesitate to offer to be her fake boyfriend but there’s nothing fake about the feelings between the two.

This man, everyone. This man! His reassurance and daily compliments are just everything. He makes Magnolia feel like she’s at the top of the world. Being with him definitely made her get the confidence to be who she is meant to be and I love to see her flourish into the woman she is.

** I love how this author talks about body dysmorphia because so many of us including myself struggle with this. **

I love the found family between all these couples/friends from past books. It makes my heart full to see everyone love and protect each other with all their might.

You will laugh, you will shed some tears and you will feel the rage and want to purge and lastly you will feel the love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 3.5/5
Profile Image for Taylor Chitwood.
693 reviews14 followers
May 1, 2024
*ARC review*

•Rating: 3.5/5⭐️ (pretty good!)
•Spice level: 3/5🌶️ (NA/adult)
•Burn pace: 2.5/5🔥 (medium burn)

Magnolia is a curvy girl who’s been emotionally beat down by her mother all of her life. Struggling to believe she deserves a man, she can’t believe it when Dalton “Iris” not only gives her the time of day…but also agrees to be her fake boyfriend. Little does she know that Iris has had his eyes on Magnolia for a long, long time.

What I liked:
•I really fell in love with Iris’s character. He’s the definition of touch-her-and-💀 combined with a golden retriever MMC.
•The side characters were great (they have prior stories as well in this interconnected universe)
•Good mental health rep, loved that the curvy girl was ACTUALLY curvy.

What I didn’t:
•It seemed like this book was marketed to be a lot darker than it was. The summary talks about how dark Iris is, but I saw none of that.
•It felt like the plot was too outweighed by the romance. I could have enjoyed the plot but there wasn’t enough of it.


Overall, I just felt like I didn’t get the book I was marketed to get. It’s much more of a comfort/cozy read. There is some darkness, but not until the last 10-ish percent. However, I did enjoy the book overall and would read it again, so it was a solid 3.5 stars!

Profile Image for Kamron Rainey.
100 reviews10 followers
April 30, 2024
❤️Review❤️

Yours To Keep
Sage St. Claire

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🌶🌶🌶/5

🖤 Curvy Queen
🖤 Morally Grey
🖤 Fake Dating
🖤Virgin FMC
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Family Vendetta
🖤Filthy Talking MMC

I've been following Sages writing journey since she first released The Storms Between Us. I was so excited when she revealed the release date for Yours To Keep! Let me tell ya, this girl can write!

I'm a sucker for a book with the can't trope, and Sage wrote it so flawlessly. I loved watching Iris and Magnolia's relationship bloom. I've really enjoyed Iris in the first three books of the Grovewood Ink series, so it was really nice to see him find his HEA.

I felt like Magnolia was an extremely relatable character for me. Sage did a great job expressing how a person feels with body dysmorphia through Magnolia's character. I loved watching her find her true self throughout this book. I've always been dead set on Daddy Breaker, but Iris has really made it hard for me to have a favorite Grovewood Ink crush.

I can't wait to see where Sage takes her writing next. I've loved every book so far!
Profile Image for Kayla Hahne .
127 reviews14 followers
April 30, 2024
Well, I completely fell in love with Sage St. Claire as an author, wow, her writing is truly so amazing!! This is the first book by her that I've read, and now I'll be going back to read the rest of this series because I fell in love with her writing and the characters. I was completely drawn in from the start. Dalton (Iris) is everything a woman can want in a man. Tall, tattooed, praising, kinky, and so damn caring. I loved how he would text Magnolia daily to remind her just how worthy she was. I loved that he cared so much about her mental health and self imagine. He's truly a dream boat. I also absolutely loved Magnolia. Sure, the self hated and constantly being down on herself got a little old, but it was also so relatable because same girl. She's a badass regardless. 10/10 read, and I will highly recommend to anyone I know. Sage St. Claire has definitely made a new fan!!
Profile Image for Kam Burkett.
55 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2024
Another amazing release by Sage St Claire 🖤

Magnolias mom is a total runt with a capital C! Trying to run her life and arrange a marriage she doesn’t want. Iris doesn’t hesitate to step in and be her fake boyfriend. And boy does this man build 👏🏻 her 👏🏻up 👏🏻 His daily affirmations and reassurance was everything. He stands up for her and shows her how she should be treated and feelings easily erupt. I absolutely loved the build of their relationship.
But what’s a little romance without drama and all hell breaking lose because her p.o.s mom had something else up her sleeve.

This was the 2nd most relatable FMC I’ve ever read. Her daily fight with self-love hit me in the soul. I LOVED that Sage incorporated struggles with body dysmorphia and self worth because so many wage that war.

“Compliments make me so uncomfortable, as if I’ve completely convinced myself everyone is lying to me”

I ALMOST loved Iris more than Daddy Breaker 🤏🏼 He was trying to stick his foot out and trip Daddy for the lead 😂

Honestly, i just love every time I get to come back to Grovewood. These characters and this friend group is the whole package. They are everything from hilarious to ridiculously loyal and they will make you envy their inner circle 🤍
Profile Image for Flipping Nap Time.
292 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2024
OMG! The perfect love story!

Dalton (Iris) and Magnolia are couple goals! I love all of the men in the Grovewood Ink series but Dalton took it to a whole new level! He is just book boyfriend perfection! A morally gray gentleman who is fiercely possessive of his woman and has the spiciest mouth! I love that Sage St. Claire mentions that Magnolia is a size 16! Magnolia is a true curvy queen and, as a fellow plus sized girly, I am all here for it! Dalton worships every single one of her curves and teaches her how to love herself, I mean the man is perfection! I would give Yours to Keep 1,000 stars if I could! Loved it! I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Chrissy Wilson.
585 reviews12 followers
July 13, 2024
Wow...I thought Breaker was my favorite, but Iris might be on an even playing field here. He hides behind his humor and sarcasm, trying to hide who he really is from people he is not close to. Magnolia sees through it though, she sees into his heart and the kind of human he really is. This book will lead you down an emotional road, learning what self harm is like, physically and mentally because of the people around you. I can relate with Magnolia on many levels and I literally felt her pain at times. This one pulled at my heart strings the most, but it made me smile in the end. 
Profile Image for Rebekah Killingsworth.
33 reviews3 followers
April 30, 2024
Sage has done yet another wonderful story! I have read all of the other books in this series and each book is wonderful.
I love her writing style and how she gets the reader engaged.
I have been reading a lot of fake dating books lately and I am really loving each one. Sage had me hooked from the beginning.
I really related to Magnolia and the struggle with my body and self image and worth. And Iris kept showing up each and every day and I liked that.
Profile Image for Amber.
97 reviews4 followers
May 1, 2024
Book 4 of this series did not disappoint! I love the juxtaposition between the main characters 🤌 Sage St Claire never fails to give a strong male character and someone who ✨️ worships ✨️ what is his. 🔥 🥵 I LOVE that this book touched on mental health and brought a realistic, consuming thought process and didn't shy away from keeping it real. This book had me hooked from the first chapter, and I devoured this just like every book before it. I can't wait to see what is in store next for Helo 👀
3 reviews
April 29, 2024
This book was everything I expected it to be and so much more. This is one of her finest works, in my opinion. There was suspense, romance, intrigue and so much more. I would recommend this book to anyone. She is such a remarkable writer and I’m so honored to be able to read and comment on her work..keep up the good work and I am definitely a fan for life
Profile Image for Hali Linville.
11 reviews2 followers
May 12, 2024
This is the 4th book of this series and as usual Sage did not disappoint!!! Love the story line, the characters and the spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Iris is my absolute favorite character so far out of all the men in the Grovewood Ink Series.

Major plot twist!!!
15 reviews
May 31, 2025
solid book

I loved Iris and Magnolia’s story! I wish it was a bit longer and developed more though. For example, Magnolia just going home/to Iris’ after finding out her father had a hit on him seemed odd for me. Also, the editing towards the end started to get a little sloppy towards the end,
Profile Image for Brooke Jones.
19 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2024
Iris is such a good guy. It’s so easy to fall for him. It was a breath of fresh air for the FMC to be a plus size girly. Made the story more relatable to me.
Profile Image for plantbookie.
271 reviews19 followers
May 10, 2024
I loved seeing Magnolia get stronger, stand up for herself and find her fire. She was smart, feisty, kind and witty. She was able to remain kind and loving even after the constant cruel treatment from her mom.

Dalton and Magnolia’s relationship was perfect for each other. That dark, broody man just melted for Mags. I really loved seeing Magnolia fit in with Dalton’s family.

Even though this is the 4th book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. The side characters were trouble makers and lovable.

This was an especially fun read for me because my fiancé’s name is Dalton 🥰 and both of them sure do have a filthy mouth 🤤
Profile Image for Shaena.
85 reviews
December 12, 2025
This series is soooo good! 🔥🔥🔥So excited to see Iris finally get the girl. Absolutely love Magnolia’s wildfire personality and smart mouth, and Iris’s love for her! Couple goals
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mindy Menotti bookishly_mindy .
650 reviews78 followers
April 30, 2024
The way that this story develops between Iris and Magnolia is such a beautiful journey.

From a female who also struggles with body dysmorphia on a daily basis, this story really resonated with me. It’s so raw and real, and truly shows such a positive relationship with how Iris is constantly building Magnolia up.

His character is a complex, but so very sexy. The way that he protects her and builds her up constantly had me swing. We all need an iris in our life.

It was such a wonderful experience to be in the Grovewood Ink community!

Profile Image for Nancy Pollock .
160 reviews18 followers
May 20, 2024
5⭐️
2.5🌶

This book was my 1st read of Sage St. Claire's and will definitely not be the last!!

I've been in a serious book slump for MONTHS. This book was EVERYTHING I needed and more. I just loved the delicate balance of bad boy charm and sweet melt your heart that was Dalton/Iris.

The way Magnolia bloomed through this book was probably my favorite part!!

I just loved it! All of it! The found family, banter, no miscommunication... Thank you miss St. Claire for writing this 💖
Profile Image for Marie Reads.
14 reviews
May 23, 2024
When I tell you that Sage never misses, she NEVER misses!

Iris is a god who worships the ground his goddess walks on! Magnolia is a queen who learns to love herself as she is through Iris’s love for her!

This story was captivating from the very beginning and it never let up!

I cannot wait for the next Grovewood Ink Book!
Profile Image for Chelsea.
114 reviews12 followers
May 30, 2024
I fell in love with this book when I started reading it I couldn’t put it down!!
This is the first book I’ve read by sage st. Claire but definitely wont be the last! Magnolia monroe and dalton Murphy couldn’t have been any more different but the chemistry between them was amazing! I loved the wee daily text messages in the morning to remind magnolia of her worth and the plot twist I did not see coming!
I’ll definitely be going back to read the rest of the series!
The laughs and emotions I felt reading this book! I Enjoyed it start to finish!
Profile Image for Brittany .
203 reviews25 followers
Read
June 3, 2024
I love all thing Grovewood! This book was amazing!
Profile Image for Mariel G..
137 reviews4 followers
November 13, 2025
I loved Iris & Magnolia’s love story, the whole forced proximity & faking dating does it for me every time! And of course we can’t forget it’s not a Sage St. Claire book without the trauma lol Mags’ mom is truly pure evil 😭

I truly wished we got more of Iris backstory and more of their love story after the events that happened idk I just feel like this book left me wanting more of them 🥹🤍
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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