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Sinful Manor #2
Promise Me
He let him get away once… Now he has seven days to get him back.
Fifteen years ago, Declan Barclay left for uni with plans of becoming an artist and escaping his family's heavy rule. What he didn't expect was to meet a soft and enigmatic actor in desperate need of guidance…and a friend. Declan quickly took Colin Shelby under his wing and the two were inseparable ever since.
That is until the night before graduation, when lines were crossed and everything changed.
Now, after years apart, Colin is back in Declan's life, but he's not alone. He's made a promise to marry someone else, and Declan only has seven days to win back the love of his life. There's just one His family is counting on him to pull this wedding off at Barclay Manor.
With just one week until vows are exchanged, Declan must decide—stay silent and lose Colin for good, or risk everything and ask the one who got away to promise him forever.
Fifteen years ago, Declan Barclay left for uni with plans of becoming an artist and escaping his family's heavy rule. What he didn't expect was to meet a soft and enigmatic actor in desperate need of guidance…and a friend. Declan quickly took Colin Shelby under his wing and the two were inseparable ever since.
That is until the night before graduation, when lines were crossed and everything changed.
Now, after years apart, Colin is back in Declan's life, but he's not alone. He's made a promise to marry someone else, and Declan only has seven days to win back the love of his life. There's just one His family is counting on him to pull this wedding off at Barclay Manor.
With just one week until vows are exchanged, Declan must decide—stay silent and lose Colin for good, or risk everything and ask the one who got away to promise him forever.
Audible Audio
First published February 10, 2026
1038 people are currently reading
20502 people want to read
About the author
Sara Cate
45 books20.6k followersSara Cate is a USA Today best-selling author of steamy romance and sexy book boyfriends. Although she writes a wide range of tropes, Sara is best known for her age gap and taboo romances. One thing you can expect from her entire collection is heaps of steam and plenty of angst.
Living in Arizona with her husband and kids, Sara spends most of her time reading, writing, or baking.
Find out more at: www.saracatebooks.com
Living in Arizona with her husband and kids, Sara spends most of her time reading, writing, or baking.
Find out more at: www.saracatebooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,168 reviews
February 11, 2026
This was an emotional second chance MM romance between two college roommates who meet again when one is about to marry his fiance at the other's ancestral Manor in Scotland. There is angst, heartache, spice, and emotional weight that will have you swooning and tearing up in equal measure.
We see Declan and Colin in dual timelines as they are both fresh faced young college students exploring their sexuality. And then in present day as Declan's family hosts Colin and his movie star fiance for his wedding. It leaves you wondering how things have gone so wrong and how we can possibly make it right as the days to the wedding tick down so fast.
I am not someone who enjoyed flashbacks, so I was hesitant with this one. However, I think in a story like this, there's really only one way to do it. And I honestly felt like their past was so vital for seeing how they ended up here. It just tore at my heart.
If you're looking for some yearning after Heated Rivalry... this might be the ticket..
Duet narration by Will Watt & Shane East, with Kelli Tager
5 Stars
3.5 on the spice scale
CW: Grief, BDSM & sometimes the improper use of it, cheating, depression, anxiety
*Thank you to Sourcebooks & the author for an ALC and ARC of this title.*
We see Declan and Colin in dual timelines as they are both fresh faced young college students exploring their sexuality. And then in present day as Declan's family hosts Colin and his movie star fiance for his wedding. It leaves you wondering how things have gone so wrong and how we can possibly make it right as the days to the wedding tick down so fast.
I am not someone who enjoyed flashbacks, so I was hesitant with this one. However, I think in a story like this, there's really only one way to do it. And I honestly felt like their past was so vital for seeing how they ended up here. It just tore at my heart.
If you're looking for some yearning after Heated Rivalry... this might be the ticket..
Duet narration by Will Watt & Shane East, with Kelli Tager
5 Stars
3.5 on the spice scale
CW: Grief, BDSM & sometimes the improper use of it, cheating, depression, anxiety
*Thank you to Sourcebooks & the author for an ALC and ARC of this title.*
November 3, 2025
I don’t normally cry with love declarations, but holy shit. THIS BOOK.
THE PREMISE: dual timeline between two best friends falling for each other, and then meeting for the first time years after everything fell apart. Right in time for one of them to get married 🙃
TROPES & VIBES:
- MM second chance best friends to lovers romance
- I couldn’t put this down. It destroyed my sleep schedule
- Some dom/sub kinky stuff
- ‘I have a chest full of paintings, and they’re all of you’
- ‘We haven’t spoken in years, but you’re an actor and I’ve seen every movie you’ve ever been in’
- “Baby”
- Teaching him sexy stuff
- Healing journey
- It’s always only been you
- Set in England and Scotland
4.5⭐️ 4🌶️
Arc from author in exchange for an honest review 🥰
THE PREMISE: dual timeline between two best friends falling for each other, and then meeting for the first time years after everything fell apart. Right in time for one of them to get married 🙃
TROPES & VIBES:
- MM second chance best friends to lovers romance
- I couldn’t put this down. It destroyed my sleep schedule
- Some dom/sub kinky stuff
- ‘I have a chest full of paintings, and they’re all of you’
- ‘We haven’t spoken in years, but you’re an actor and I’ve seen every movie you’ve ever been in’
- “Baby”
- Teaching him sexy stuff
- Healing journey
- It’s always only been you
- Set in England and Scotland
4.5⭐️ 4🌶️
Arc from author in exchange for an honest review 🥰
February 6, 2026
Angst. Pain. Love. Perfection
This was soooo good for Sara cate omg. Duel timelines of falling in love just to fall apart and find each other again.
Ooof so good
This was soooo good for Sara cate omg. Duel timelines of falling in love just to fall apart and find each other again.
Ooof so good
February 11, 2026
ARC read: yes netgalley
5⭐️ 4🌶️
Synopsis in one sentence: Years after a heartbreaking falling out, Declan Barclay has seven days to win back his first love, Colin Shelby, before Colin marries someone else at Declan’s own family estate in Scotland.
Fav character: Declan Barclay. I loved his brash Scottish artist energy. He’s charismatic and a bit of a mess, but his devotion to Colin is so beautiful to read.
Fav trope: Second Chance / Best Friends to Lovers. The dual timeline really makes you feel the weight of everything they lost and why Declan is fighting so hard.
Fav part: The ticking clock of the wedding creates such intense, suffocating tension. Every interaction feels high stakes because you know the deadline is approaching.
Didn’t like: nothing Sara Cate can write any romance situation - I LOVE THEM
Recommend it: Yes. Especially if you love MM romance with deep angst, a gorgeous Scottish setting, and that signature Sara Cate emotional gut punch AND OBSESSION.
Unique: The dual timeline structure. Going back and forth between their university days and the present really allowed for a slow-burn realization.
Cont. series?: Yes. It’s the second book in the Sinful Manor series (after Keep Me), and it makes me want to see which Barclay sibling or manor guest we get next.
Unforgettable: The yearning. Sara Cate is a master of ache. The way Declan looks at Colin after all those years is something I won't forget anytime soon. I loved them so much!!
Kindle unlimited: Yes!
5⭐️ 4🌶️
Synopsis in one sentence: Years after a heartbreaking falling out, Declan Barclay has seven days to win back his first love, Colin Shelby, before Colin marries someone else at Declan’s own family estate in Scotland.
Fav character: Declan Barclay. I loved his brash Scottish artist energy. He’s charismatic and a bit of a mess, but his devotion to Colin is so beautiful to read.
Fav trope: Second Chance / Best Friends to Lovers. The dual timeline really makes you feel the weight of everything they lost and why Declan is fighting so hard.
Fav part: The ticking clock of the wedding creates such intense, suffocating tension. Every interaction feels high stakes because you know the deadline is approaching.
Didn’t like: nothing Sara Cate can write any romance situation - I LOVE THEM
Recommend it: Yes. Especially if you love MM romance with deep angst, a gorgeous Scottish setting, and that signature Sara Cate emotional gut punch AND OBSESSION.
Unique: The dual timeline structure. Going back and forth between their university days and the present really allowed for a slow-burn realization.
Cont. series?: Yes. It’s the second book in the Sinful Manor series (after Keep Me), and it makes me want to see which Barclay sibling or manor guest we get next.
Unforgettable: The yearning. Sara Cate is a master of ache. The way Declan looks at Colin after all those years is something I won't forget anytime soon. I loved them so much!!
Kindle unlimited: Yes!
February 11, 2026
What's inside:
Second Chance
MM love story
Broody Scottsman
Grumpy x Sunshine
Best Friends to Lovers
Dual Timeline
Virgin MC
Spice
“I’m sorry it was only eight days a year to you. It was never just eight days to me. You were with me every bloody day.”
This is a well written love story that spans more than a decade, full of stolen moments, yearning and coming to terms with what you want and what you deserve
Colin is quiet and shy, and has been very sheltered by his mother. Declan is brash and charismatic and tends to be the life of the party. They meet when they are roommates at university and quickly become inseparable best friends during their 4 years there. Right before they graduate the lines between friendship and something more become blurred and then everything changes.
Before leaving university, they vow to spend time together every summer to maintain their friendship.Through the years they both come to treasure this time together until one day changes everything and they lose touch after having a falling out.
Now its years later and Colin's fiance has booked Declans family home to host their wedding. When they come crashing back into each others lives they are forced to face their past and the feelings they still have for the other. With just seven days until the wedding Declan must decide whether to let Colin go or fight for the only person he has ever loved.
The dual timeline really makes this story hit home. We get to experience their past so we can truly understand what it means when Colin shows back up in Declan's life engaged to another man. The yearning and heartbreak are strong, and I definitely found myself falling in love right along with them throughout the years.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in less than a day because it was more important to keep turning then page than to be a responsible adult. Definitely recommend this book if you love a good second chance love story with all the feels and the heartbreak of giving up on the only person you really ever wanted.
Second Chance
MM love story
Broody Scottsman
Grumpy x Sunshine
Best Friends to Lovers
Dual Timeline
Virgin MC
Spice
“I’m sorry it was only eight days a year to you. It was never just eight days to me. You were with me every bloody day.”
This is a well written love story that spans more than a decade, full of stolen moments, yearning and coming to terms with what you want and what you deserve
Colin is quiet and shy, and has been very sheltered by his mother. Declan is brash and charismatic and tends to be the life of the party. They meet when they are roommates at university and quickly become inseparable best friends during their 4 years there. Right before they graduate the lines between friendship and something more become blurred and then everything changes.
Before leaving university, they vow to spend time together every summer to maintain their friendship.Through the years they both come to treasure this time together until one day changes everything and they lose touch after having a falling out.
Now its years later and Colin's fiance has booked Declans family home to host their wedding. When they come crashing back into each others lives they are forced to face their past and the feelings they still have for the other. With just seven days until the wedding Declan must decide whether to let Colin go or fight for the only person he has ever loved.
The dual timeline really makes this story hit home. We get to experience their past so we can truly understand what it means when Colin shows back up in Declan's life engaged to another man. The yearning and heartbreak are strong, and I definitely found myself falling in love right along with them throughout the years.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in less than a day because it was more important to keep turning then page than to be a responsible adult. Definitely recommend this book if you love a good second chance love story with all the feels and the heartbreak of giving up on the only person you really ever wanted.
January 23, 2026
3.5 stars! Promise Me is a friends to lovers, mm, grumpy x sunshine, second chance romance and book 2 in the Sinful Manor series by Sara Cate.
In this book we follow Declan and Colin and get dual timeline as we see their story of friendship to more in the past, and then catch up to present day between them! In present day, Declan is helping host a house party and Colin surprisingly shows up…with his fiancé. Then we cut back in time to 15 years in the past when they first met in college, became friends, and had a moment that changed everything!
I expected to be hit more emotionally with this one, especially it being a second chance which is one of my all-time favorite tropes. I wanted to be wrecked (and of course then pieced back together). But this one just didn’t fully go there emotionally for me like the first book in the series, Keep Me, did. It’s always tough to not compare books in a series but I just wanted those similar vibes of tension, feelings, the emotions, the mental health journey that I got in that book. This story moved kind of quickly which I think didn’t let those feelings build up for me. All in all, this one was solid enough, just won’t be a new favorite for me.
I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.
CW: grief, parental death, mental health struggles, depression, anxiety, BDSM
In this book we follow Declan and Colin and get dual timeline as we see their story of friendship to more in the past, and then catch up to present day between them! In present day, Declan is helping host a house party and Colin surprisingly shows up…with his fiancé. Then we cut back in time to 15 years in the past when they first met in college, became friends, and had a moment that changed everything!
I expected to be hit more emotionally with this one, especially it being a second chance which is one of my all-time favorite tropes. I wanted to be wrecked (and of course then pieced back together). But this one just didn’t fully go there emotionally for me like the first book in the series, Keep Me, did. It’s always tough to not compare books in a series but I just wanted those similar vibes of tension, feelings, the emotions, the mental health journey that I got in that book. This story moved kind of quickly which I think didn’t let those feelings build up for me. All in all, this one was solid enough, just won’t be a new favorite for me.
I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.
CW: grief, parental death, mental health struggles, depression, anxiety, BDSM
Want to read
August 27, 2025taaaake me back to Scotland 🫡 🏴
February 15, 2026
From carefree youth to hard-won adulthood. From tentative hope to unshakable certainty. From “you’re my best friend” to “we were always meant to be.”
What begins as a shy, almost innocent friendship between college roommates unfolds into an emotionally charged journey of self-discovery, healing, and becoming. This is a story about finding your own path, confronting old wounds, surviving heartbreak, and reaching a level of raw honesty and vulnerability that strips love down to its very core. It’s about a love so fierce and enduring that time, distance, pride, and painful mistakes never truly stand a chance against it.
Collin and Declan fit together like two halves of the same soul – like puzzle pieces that were always destined to lock into place.
Collin, desperate to taste a life beyond the gilded cage of family expectations and money, crosses paths with bold, quietly broken Declan – a man aching for connection, carrying fractures in his heart he barely knows how to name. From the moment they meet, loneliness is no longer their shadow. They become inseparable. Best friends. Safe harbor for each other. The one place where vulnerability isn’t a weakness and honesty isn’t met with judgment.
What moved me most were Collin’s inner battles – those tender, fragile moments when he wonders whether to speak, whether to confess, whether to lay bare the most guarded parts of himself. When doubt creeps in and fear whispers that something might shatter between them, he steadies himself with the same grounding truth every time: It’s Declan. My best friend. And that simple certainty says everything.
The depth of trust Declan earns in their relationship is breathtaking. It elevates their bond to something far beyond friendship – to a space where emotions are unfiltered, hearts are exposed, and love demands courage.
This isn’t a fairy-tale romance wrapped in neat perfection. It’s messier than that. Realer. It’s a story that held my heart captive from the very first page to the last. I didn’t just read it– I plunged into it, like diving into cool, dark waters that carried me along in their current – sometimes gentle and soothing, sometimes wild and merciless.
I’m completely, hopelessly in awe.💘
Tropes
💍 Wedding Week Countdown (Seven Days to Stop the Wedding)
💔 Second Chance Romance
👬 College Best Friends to Lovers
🏳️🌈 MM Romance
🏡 Family Estate Setting (Barclay Manor)
🎭 Actor Hero
🎨 Artist Hero
👨👩👦 Powerful / Controlling Family Influence
🫣 Repressed Feelings
💌 The One That Got Away
⚡ Unresolved Tension from the Past
🕰 Flashbacks to College Years
💞 Grand Romantic Gesture
🧠 Emotional Growth & Self-Acceptance
💬 “Choose Me” Moment
❤️🔥 Angsty Slow Burn with High Emotional Stakes
What begins as a shy, almost innocent friendship between college roommates unfolds into an emotionally charged journey of self-discovery, healing, and becoming. This is a story about finding your own path, confronting old wounds, surviving heartbreak, and reaching a level of raw honesty and vulnerability that strips love down to its very core. It’s about a love so fierce and enduring that time, distance, pride, and painful mistakes never truly stand a chance against it.
Collin and Declan fit together like two halves of the same soul – like puzzle pieces that were always destined to lock into place.
Collin, desperate to taste a life beyond the gilded cage of family expectations and money, crosses paths with bold, quietly broken Declan – a man aching for connection, carrying fractures in his heart he barely knows how to name. From the moment they meet, loneliness is no longer their shadow. They become inseparable. Best friends. Safe harbor for each other. The one place where vulnerability isn’t a weakness and honesty isn’t met with judgment.
What moved me most were Collin’s inner battles – those tender, fragile moments when he wonders whether to speak, whether to confess, whether to lay bare the most guarded parts of himself. When doubt creeps in and fear whispers that something might shatter between them, he steadies himself with the same grounding truth every time: It’s Declan. My best friend. And that simple certainty says everything.
The depth of trust Declan earns in their relationship is breathtaking. It elevates their bond to something far beyond friendship – to a space where emotions are unfiltered, hearts are exposed, and love demands courage.
This isn’t a fairy-tale romance wrapped in neat perfection. It’s messier than that. Realer. It’s a story that held my heart captive from the very first page to the last. I didn’t just read it– I plunged into it, like diving into cool, dark waters that carried me along in their current – sometimes gentle and soothing, sometimes wild and merciless.
I’m completely, hopelessly in awe.💘
Tropes
💍 Wedding Week Countdown (Seven Days to Stop the Wedding)
💔 Second Chance Romance
👬 College Best Friends to Lovers
🏳️🌈 MM Romance
🏡 Family Estate Setting (Barclay Manor)
🎭 Actor Hero
🎨 Artist Hero
👨👩👦 Powerful / Controlling Family Influence
🫣 Repressed Feelings
💌 The One That Got Away
⚡ Unresolved Tension from the Past
🕰 Flashbacks to College Years
💞 Grand Romantic Gesture
🧠 Emotional Growth & Self-Acceptance
💬 “Choose Me” Moment
❤️🔥 Angsty Slow Burn with High Emotional Stakes
February 9, 2026
5⭐️
4🌶️
🔥Friends to Lovers
🏴Second Chance Romance
🔥Grumpy x Sunshine
🏴Virgin MC
🔥Scottish/English MMCs
🏴Dual Timelines
🔥Dual First Person POV
I promise you that Promise Me is a book you do not want to miss out on. This is told in dual pov/timelines. The present is told from Declan’s our brooding Scottish mc and the past is told from Collin’s our British mc. Their story took me on a journey I was not prepared for. I needed several tissues for the ugly crying that happened. Declan wants to be left alone with his art in his home without his siblings or the parade of weddings. He makes a bet with his brother, if he can successfully pull off the next wedding, his sister will stop hosting them at the manor. He’s in for the surprise of his life when one of the grooms turns out to be his former best friend and the only person he’s ever loved, Collin. They haven’t see each other in seven years and they did not part on the best of terms. In the present there is heartbreak and regrets. In the past, we see Collin and Declan develop a friendship spanning years full of hope and self discovery. After university they agree to meet every summer and each trip is hotter and more emotional than the last. The spice is something else, there is lust, but also also passion stemming from the deep emotional connection between friends. The heat between them evolved along with Collin’s evolution and character growth as he learned to ask for what he wanted. It broke my heart to see Collin struggle with his feelings only to be turned away when he asked for more. I didn’t want their story to end, but at the same time I wanted them to find their hea. There was groveling a gestures of love that brought tears to my eyes and kept me on the edge of my seat. Declan and Collin are magic. Theirs is a beautiful story of friendship, self discovery, grief, and healing.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.
Plot: 5
Engaging: 5
Character: 5
Thank you Sara Cate & Hambright PR for the gifted advanced copy.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“Declan Barclay made me a promise, and I know he would never let me down.”
“Declan doesn’t want to say goodbye because I mean something to him, and I’ve never wanted to mean anything to anyone as much as I want with him.”
“Mostly, I miss loving Colin. Because when I let myself love him, my heart was in use.”
“I’ll see you next summer, won’t I?” I ask. “Every summer, Colin. That’s a promise. Every bloody summer.”
“We were friends. We were lovers. We were in love, and yet, never together, never in the right place at the right time.”
“I’m so bad at this, Shelby, but you should know you are the best thing in my life. I hope you know that. And I do want you as more, I do. It’s just…I need you as my friend more than anything.”
“Shakespeare, I’m sorry it was only eight days a year to you. It was never just eight days to me. You were with me every bloody day.”
“When we are together like this, I live for him and him for me. As if we were designed to be together. Like I am the night sky, and he is the stars.”
“I’ll give you every day of my life until I die, I promise.” He takes another step closer.
“Say it again,” he mumbles through his tears. “Promise me.”
“Colin Shelby, I promise. I promise you everything you want and everything you need,” I say, staring into his eyes. “I’m yours if you want me.”
4🌶️
🔥Friends to Lovers
🏴Second Chance Romance
🔥Grumpy x Sunshine
🏴Virgin MC
🔥Scottish/English MMCs
🏴Dual Timelines
🔥Dual First Person POV
I promise you that Promise Me is a book you do not want to miss out on. This is told in dual pov/timelines. The present is told from Declan’s our brooding Scottish mc and the past is told from Collin’s our British mc. Their story took me on a journey I was not prepared for. I needed several tissues for the ugly crying that happened. Declan wants to be left alone with his art in his home without his siblings or the parade of weddings. He makes a bet with his brother, if he can successfully pull off the next wedding, his sister will stop hosting them at the manor. He’s in for the surprise of his life when one of the grooms turns out to be his former best friend and the only person he’s ever loved, Collin. They haven’t see each other in seven years and they did not part on the best of terms. In the present there is heartbreak and regrets. In the past, we see Collin and Declan develop a friendship spanning years full of hope and self discovery. After university they agree to meet every summer and each trip is hotter and more emotional than the last. The spice is something else, there is lust, but also also passion stemming from the deep emotional connection between friends. The heat between them evolved along with Collin’s evolution and character growth as he learned to ask for what he wanted. It broke my heart to see Collin struggle with his feelings only to be turned away when he asked for more. I didn’t want their story to end, but at the same time I wanted them to find their hea. There was groveling a gestures of love that brought tears to my eyes and kept me on the edge of my seat. Declan and Collin are magic. Theirs is a beautiful story of friendship, self discovery, grief, and healing.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.
Plot: 5
Engaging: 5
Character: 5
Thank you Sara Cate & Hambright PR for the gifted advanced copy.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“Declan Barclay made me a promise, and I know he would never let me down.”
“Declan doesn’t want to say goodbye because I mean something to him, and I’ve never wanted to mean anything to anyone as much as I want with him.”
“Mostly, I miss loving Colin. Because when I let myself love him, my heart was in use.”
“I’ll see you next summer, won’t I?” I ask. “Every summer, Colin. That’s a promise. Every bloody summer.”
“We were friends. We were lovers. We were in love, and yet, never together, never in the right place at the right time.”
“I’m so bad at this, Shelby, but you should know you are the best thing in my life. I hope you know that. And I do want you as more, I do. It’s just…I need you as my friend more than anything.”
“Shakespeare, I’m sorry it was only eight days a year to you. It was never just eight days to me. You were with me every bloody day.”
“When we are together like this, I live for him and him for me. As if we were designed to be together. Like I am the night sky, and he is the stars.”
“I’ll give you every day of my life until I die, I promise.” He takes another step closer.
“Say it again,” he mumbles through his tears. “Promise me.”
“Colin Shelby, I promise. I promise you everything you want and everything you need,” I say, staring into his eyes. “I’m yours if you want me.”
February 10, 2026
4.5⭐️
Oh my god I loved this book. It was emotional, heart warming, sexy & all around a beautiful tale between two friends that found love amongst themselves.
The first book in this series was perfect & I had high expectations, but as I expected, Sara really delivered with this one. I truly love a good friends to lovers *happy sigh*
We get two POVs PLUS dual timelines that go back and forth between Colin & Declan’s lives & how they came to be friends then best friends then MORE. I love Colin & Declan both with my whole heart. They are so freaking special & were exactly what the other person didn’t realize they even needed. There were so many firsts between the two & I seriously loved how we got to see the important moments in the past BUT only in one of the men’s POVs. My heart seriously is melting after finishing the epilogues.
AHHHHH I SO FREAKING GOOD
Type: audio/physical (omfg the audio was so good I was sweating)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Second chance
It’s always been you
MM
Grumpy x sunshine
Virgin x playboy
Oh my god I loved this book. It was emotional, heart warming, sexy & all around a beautiful tale between two friends that found love amongst themselves.
The first book in this series was perfect & I had high expectations, but as I expected, Sara really delivered with this one. I truly love a good friends to lovers *happy sigh*
We get two POVs PLUS dual timelines that go back and forth between Colin & Declan’s lives & how they came to be friends then best friends then MORE. I love Colin & Declan both with my whole heart. They are so freaking special & were exactly what the other person didn’t realize they even needed. There were so many firsts between the two & I seriously loved how we got to see the important moments in the past BUT only in one of the men’s POVs. My heart seriously is melting after finishing the epilogues.
AHHHHH I SO FREAKING GOOD
Type: audio/physical (omfg the audio was so good I was sweating)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Second chance
It’s always been you
MM
Grumpy x sunshine
Virgin x playboy
February 11, 2026
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️
March 15, 2026
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.75
First Impressions
Promise Me is the second book in the "Sinful Manor" series and this one had a very similiar style in it being more contemporary and not erotic romance which is kinda neat as I have only read this author's erotic romance (I haven't read her whole backlist so maybe she has more mainstream books that I haven't gotten to) But seeing her write just a regular story is so refreshing and I really think this is her best stuff. It has plenty of strong steam elements to it, but there is so much emotional intimacy that is tackled in this story that I found so captivating.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Declan
The Hero (2): Colin
Summary
Declan and Colin were college sweethearts, they had a on and off fling but Declan was too emotionally damaged and not in the best place to fight for their relationship and he hasn't seen Colin in over 7 years but still deeply loves him. But when he makes a bet with his siblings to make these constant weddings stop at his home, he finds himself in trouble as the upcoming wedding he is in charge to get planned and finished .....is a wedding with his long lost love Colin and his fiancee Pierce. Now he is in a close proximity to Colin, having to make wedding preparations and only has a week with him before he will be married. But there is something more happening with Colin and Pierce and it will take Declan overcoming his fears to fight for the man he loves...
What I Loved
Promise Me was so brilliantly written. From the beginning, my heart was held in time as I read this book. I literally was on the edge of my seat especially with all the current timeline events that were happening between Declan and Colin. The tension and chemistry between them was so raw and intense and you literally feel that longing and love that just builds between them. Now the POV's in this book was quite interesting. We get mostly Colin's POV in the flashbacks and Declan's in the current timeline. I see why the author wrote it that way to add more mystery to what was building in the modern timeline and to keep you in suspense. I was literally so drawn into their relationship and while many times in MM pairings you will see a dom/sub type of element....this one was different. In that we see Colin having to face a difficult choice but its a choice he has to make and my heart just broke for him to be honest. He has been manipulated and used for years and we see him having to overcome that and fast. You see that despite the way he has been treated in recent years, he still has his own strength and seeing the way Declan fights for him and stands up for him and for Colin to have his own voice was so precious. The third act was literally PERFECTION! I loved how it played out. And it was different than the first book in how you have that tension and plot like angst. But just as beautiful in how its portrayed.
What I Struggled With
Flashbacks and the epilogue a bit. I really am not a fan of flashbacks that go back and forth from beginning to end of a story. I would much prefer the flashbacks happen earlier in the story especially when there is more tension and anxiety that happens in the third act. And I very rarely like a flashback in a story. I get that it delivers depth for the relationship but I tend to just skim them most of the time. And I didn't like something that happens in the epilogue and its just a personal preference on what I don't like to see for endings for MM pairings. I am kinda worried about the sister's story as I am not really a fan of ff pairings and I really hope its not one. (No offense but I have yet to see an author truly write this dynamic well). I really think she would do better with a alpha like male with such a strong personality she has and needs someone to let go with but we shall see what the author decides to do. *crossing fingers*.
Overall View
Promise Me was a Scottish delight that takes you through depth, emotionally driven heart and a love story that will captivate you with just enough spice to satisfy any romance reader...
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Character Types: Actor/Playwright, Tortured Hero, Brooding Hero
Themes: Heart/Emotionally Touching, BDSM as Healing, Pet Play
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Forbidden Love
Book Perspective
Duo POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
J. Daniels
Anna Stone
Sarina Bowen
Song This Book Inspires
Say You Love Me by Jessie Ware
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone---but for the familial connections its best to read in order.
Steam/Spice Explanations
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
March 4, 2026
I love you, Sara!
Since the Heated Rivalry hype, I've been thinking a lot about why I'm obsessed with MM romance. There's also a huge discourse on social media about this. I personally think it's because, but not limited to:
🌈 Our collective imagery of male sex is *THRUST THRUST THRUST UUURRRGGGHHHHH... SNORE* and it's novel for me to read whole scenes inside their heads.
🌈 It's nice to read that they also have feelings... These men HAVE to talk to each other, there's no overtly sensitive woman to pull emotions out of them.
🌈 There's no gender roles. I love - LOVE! - that sometimes the top is the sensitive, self-conscious one and the bottom is the stoic who stands up for him. Sometimes the bottom proposes and the top goes out with his girlfriends for cocktails. Or any combination therein (obviously also some are vers)! No one is expected to be the nurturer or the "manly" one or whatever; they can just be.
🌈 And I think the biggest attraction is the green flag energy, the healthy relationships, the expression of emotion from a gender that typically bottles everything up. I feel like I would be really safe around these queer men.
And specific to this book, I got my YEARNING!!! I got PINING!!! DRAMATIC DECLARATIONS OF LOVE!!! Dirty talk, sexy times, and fun banter. I didn't care about the plot but it's Sara Cate, I always have a good time.
As it was, the plot is just that Colin and Declan were best friends at Uni, it developed into more, but Colin always wanted a for-real relationship, and Declan loved Colin but thought he wouldn't be able to do the relationship thing, so eventually Colin leaves Declan and goes on to a toxic relationship with a guy whose only redeeming quality is that he'll be in a relationship with Colin. Years later, Colin and fiance Pierce plan to get married at Barclay Manor, where Declan is the temporary wedding planner. The resolution is very predictable from there.
My issue is one I often have with Sara Cate books, that the conflict is too convoluted to make any sense.
Specifically, Colin left Declan because Declan was willing to give him devotion, love, respect, but not a label... He refused to treat Colin like shit... Declan wanted Colin to stand up for himself, but Colin only stands up to Declan and no one else. Presumably, when Colin ran away from Declan, and let's not get it twisted as to who left whom, Pierce immediately took ownership of Colin. Didn't promise him love at all, really, just domination and degradation. He was willing to marry Pierce for what? Why either of them ever thought it was a good idea seems to be just at the whim of the plot.
And Declan, Buddy... Declan spent the entire book claiming he couldn't be in a relationship, until Colin was going to marry someone else. And granted, it would have been a mistake, but that shouldn't have been enough to change his entire way of thinking. I always prefer when an MC goes to therapy of their own volition (it doesn't have to be therapy, whatever the development calls for), not just because they might lose the other MC. And what's more, Colin made it a condition of being with Declan that he had to go to therapy and work on himself and yet the whole reason Colin left Declan in the first place was because Declan refused to treat Colin like he owned him. And not owned him in the fun Dom/sub way, owned him like Colin was an object. I'm sorry but are we sure we got it straight who needed therapy here?
Honestly, the only reason all this bothers me is because I typically love the narrative structure of present day intermixed with flashbacks that slowly reveal the conflict. And when the conflict is finally revealed and it's stupid? Well, what did I just sit through all this for?! The second Pierce is introduced, there's no question what's going to happen, and in my opinion, a more compelling story would have been if Pierce was more likeable and his relationship with Colin was in any way more believable. And/or if Declan had actually done something believably in need of redemption.
PERFECT example is Every Summer After.
Sara has a tendency to add in these unnecessary bets/deals/bargains and then create one-dimensional bad guys and so instead of more brat Colin and Dom Daddy Declan, more understanding of what was going on inside Colin's head, a better characterization of why the hell Declan was so scared of relationships... we get Pierce. Blegh.
So, full star off for a dumb plot but the banter and the angsty painting and the sexy times and the tender friendship definitely each earned their star.
Since the Heated Rivalry hype, I've been thinking a lot about why I'm obsessed with MM romance. There's also a huge discourse on social media about this. I personally think it's because, but not limited to:
🌈 Our collective imagery of male sex is *THRUST THRUST THRUST UUURRRGGGHHHHH... SNORE* and it's novel for me to read whole scenes inside their heads.
🌈 It's nice to read that they also have feelings... These men HAVE to talk to each other, there's no overtly sensitive woman to pull emotions out of them.
🌈 There's no gender roles. I love - LOVE! - that sometimes the top is the sensitive, self-conscious one and the bottom is the stoic who stands up for him. Sometimes the bottom proposes and the top goes out with his girlfriends for cocktails. Or any combination therein (obviously also some are vers)! No one is expected to be the nurturer or the "manly" one or whatever; they can just be.
🌈 And I think the biggest attraction is the green flag energy, the healthy relationships, the expression of emotion from a gender that typically bottles everything up. I feel like I would be really safe around these queer men.
And specific to this book, I got my YEARNING!!! I got PINING!!! DRAMATIC DECLARATIONS OF LOVE!!! Dirty talk, sexy times, and fun banter. I didn't care about the plot but it's Sara Cate, I always have a good time.
As it was, the plot is just that Colin and Declan were best friends at Uni, it developed into more, but Colin always wanted a for-real relationship, and Declan loved Colin but thought he wouldn't be able to do the relationship thing, so eventually Colin leaves Declan and goes on to a toxic relationship with a guy whose only redeeming quality is that he'll be in a relationship with Colin. Years later, Colin and fiance Pierce plan to get married at Barclay Manor, where Declan is the temporary wedding planner. The resolution is very predictable from there.
My issue is one I often have with Sara Cate books, that the conflict is too convoluted to make any sense.
Specifically, Colin left Declan because Declan was willing to give him devotion, love, respect, but not a label... He refused to treat Colin like shit... Declan wanted Colin to stand up for himself, but Colin only stands up to Declan and no one else. Presumably, when Colin ran away from Declan, and let's not get it twisted as to who left whom, Pierce immediately took ownership of Colin. Didn't promise him love at all, really, just domination and degradation. He was willing to marry Pierce for what? Why either of them ever thought it was a good idea seems to be just at the whim of the plot.
And Declan, Buddy... Declan spent the entire book claiming he couldn't be in a relationship, until Colin was going to marry someone else. And granted, it would have been a mistake, but that shouldn't have been enough to change his entire way of thinking. I always prefer when an MC goes to therapy of their own volition (it doesn't have to be therapy, whatever the development calls for), not just because they might lose the other MC. And what's more, Colin made it a condition of being with Declan that he had to go to therapy and work on himself and yet the whole reason Colin left Declan in the first place was because Declan refused to treat Colin like he owned him. And not owned him in the fun Dom/sub way, owned him like Colin was an object. I'm sorry but are we sure we got it straight who needed therapy here?
Honestly, the only reason all this bothers me is because I typically love the narrative structure of present day intermixed with flashbacks that slowly reveal the conflict. And when the conflict is finally revealed and it's stupid? Well, what did I just sit through all this for?! The second Pierce is introduced, there's no question what's going to happen, and in my opinion, a more compelling story would have been if Pierce was more likeable and his relationship with Colin was in any way more believable. And/or if Declan had actually done something believably in need of redemption.
PERFECT example is Every Summer After.
Sara has a tendency to add in these unnecessary bets/deals/bargains and then create one-dimensional bad guys and so instead of more brat Colin and Dom Daddy Declan, more understanding of what was going on inside Colin's head, a better characterization of why the hell Declan was so scared of relationships... we get Pierce. Blegh.
So, full star off for a dumb plot but the banter and the angsty painting and the sexy times and the tender friendship definitely each earned their star.
February 22, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
🎨 Friends to Lovers to Strangers to Lovers
🎭 Actor/Artist
🎨 College Roommates
🎭 Dual Timeline
🎨 BDSM
🖤 Breakup: Yes
🩶 OP Drama: Yes, one MC is engaged and they hook up with others off page throughout
🤍 Roles: Strict
Honestly, I did not think this pair made a great couple. They obviously had strong feelings for one another, but I don’t think Declan’s personal issues were delve into enough to justify his terrible treatment of Colin. His big speech at the end was sweet, but it’s still broke my heart to read about Colin getting treated like crap for 90% of the book.
The epilogue was super sweet, but to be honest, if we didn’t have a detailed epilogue, I might not believe they were still together. I didn’t like that the POVs were heavily divided by timeline. The past was almost all from Colin’s POV and the present in Declan’s. I would’ve much preferred that be more evenly distributed.
Also, I know this is an author who typically writes MF pairings, but please don’t use “back” entrance in a MM romance. There’s only one when he’s a man.
🎨 Friends to Lovers to Strangers to Lovers
🎭 Actor/Artist
🎨 College Roommates
🎭 Dual Timeline
🎨 BDSM
🖤 Breakup: Yes
🩶 OP Drama: Yes, one MC is engaged and they hook up with others off page throughout
🤍 Roles: Strict
Honestly, I did not think this pair made a great couple. They obviously had strong feelings for one another, but I don’t think Declan’s personal issues were delve into enough to justify his terrible treatment of Colin. His big speech at the end was sweet, but it’s still broke my heart to read about Colin getting treated like crap for 90% of the book.
The epilogue was super sweet, but to be honest, if we didn’t have a detailed epilogue, I might not believe they were still together. I didn’t like that the POVs were heavily divided by timeline. The past was almost all from Colin’s POV and the present in Declan’s. I would’ve much preferred that be more evenly distributed.
Also, I know this is an author who typically writes MF pairings, but please don’t use “back” entrance in a MM romance. There’s only one when he’s a man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2026
I’m running on little sleep because I HAD TO stay up and finish this book. Binging it in less than 12 hours because it physically pained me to put it down. Promise Me had me in a total chokehold. I laughed. I cried. By the end I was drained but so totally satiated. This is my most anticipated read for 2026, and I devoured it in less than a day. I don't know what that says about my self-control, but I’m not sorry. This book is a journey through angsty second chances, defined by a quiet, raw devotion that kept me ravenous for every single page. And let’s be real… Sara Cate always delivers!
The storytelling here is nothing short of brilliant! The way Sara split the perspectives allowing us to live in Colin’s head during the past and Declan’s in the present truly created this beautiful, agonizing tension where you felt the weight of their secrets and the void of their years apart. My heart shattered for Colin, the ultimate people-pleaser who just wanted to be seen, and I was so deeply moved by the depiction of Declan’s depression and the paralyzing fear of loss that kept him in a cage of his own making. Watching them finally shed their traumas to choose one another was poetic and painfully honest. By the time I reached those epilogues, I was a total wreck! Seeing them finally get the happiness they’ve deserved for a lifetime was the most touching resolution I could have asked for. If you want a romance that is equal parts heartbreaking, sexy, and soul-healing, GRAB THIS BOOK NOW! Thank me later.
The storytelling here is nothing short of brilliant! The way Sara split the perspectives allowing us to live in Colin’s head during the past and Declan’s in the present truly created this beautiful, agonizing tension where you felt the weight of their secrets and the void of their years apart. My heart shattered for Colin, the ultimate people-pleaser who just wanted to be seen, and I was so deeply moved by the depiction of Declan’s depression and the paralyzing fear of loss that kept him in a cage of his own making. Watching them finally shed their traumas to choose one another was poetic and painfully honest. By the time I reached those epilogues, I was a total wreck! Seeing them finally get the happiness they’ve deserved for a lifetime was the most touching resolution I could have asked for. If you want a romance that is equal parts heartbreaking, sexy, and soul-healing, GRAB THIS BOOK NOW! Thank me later.
January 16, 2026
5 ⭐♾️
Omg, omg this was pure liquid gold, five big fat gold stars and hands down my new favourite read by Sara Cate! Like, I absolutely adored this; you cannot convince otherwise that there isn't parallels to Heated Rivalry in this.
I literally haven't been able to stop thinking about Colin and Declan, why were they SO FREAKING CUTE PLS!!! I was grinning with tears in my eyes at 1am, they actually had no business making me cry they way they did.
Listen, I can always count on a Sara Cate book to never disappoint, because the SPICE ALWAYS DELIVERS! I'm not even joking when I say this had me blushing and staring at the wall for a solid good ten mins! Like, are you kidding me, "the boat wasn't the only thing docked that week" will FOREVERRR live RENT FREE in my head!!
I just love me an angsty second chance and this didn't disappoint. The yearning and quiet devotion between these two men; it was beautiful, painfully raw and so unique to them and their journey. Sara done an incredible job showing Declan's depression because you wouldn't think so at first, but over the years, you could see how he really held himself back, having lost his parents at a young age and then Colin, after the breakdown of their friendship. Equally, too, Colin's journey and him coming out, dating; his incessant need to please those around him, even when it made him uncomfortable, God, my heart broke for him because Declan saw him for him and didn't want change or put him in a mould like others tried to.
The ending and epilogues were probably my favourite parts of Colin and Declan's story; I literally couldn't stop smiling, there were tears in my eyes because it was such a touching a beautiful end to their story. They deserve it and all the happiness in the world.
And to add, Anna, Blaire, please let it be that there is a romance developing between them, because I noted the way Blaire was around Anna! Omg, a sapphic romance between those two would be everythingg!!
This really was one of my favourite reads and couples of 2026!
Thank you to Sara Cate and her team for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review; I it's always a pleasure being on your content team, and cannot wait to create some Colin and Declan inspired content. I'd also like to thank Siena at Sourcebooks for the e-arc from NetGalley.
Tropes
Best friends to lovers
second chance
grumpy x sunshine
virgin MMC
dual timelines
Yearning 100x
Omg, omg this was pure liquid gold, five big fat gold stars and hands down my new favourite read by Sara Cate! Like, I absolutely adored this; you cannot convince otherwise that there isn't parallels to Heated Rivalry in this.
I literally haven't been able to stop thinking about Colin and Declan, why were they SO FREAKING CUTE PLS!!! I was grinning with tears in my eyes at 1am, they actually had no business making me cry they way they did.
Listen, I can always count on a Sara Cate book to never disappoint, because the SPICE ALWAYS DELIVERS! I'm not even joking when I say this had me blushing and staring at the wall for a solid good ten mins! Like, are you kidding me, "the boat wasn't the only thing docked that week" will FOREVERRR live RENT FREE in my head!!
I just love me an angsty second chance and this didn't disappoint. The yearning and quiet devotion between these two men; it was beautiful, painfully raw and so unique to them and their journey. Sara done an incredible job showing Declan's depression because you wouldn't think so at first, but over the years, you could see how he really held himself back, having lost his parents at a young age and then Colin, after the breakdown of their friendship. Equally, too, Colin's journey and him coming out, dating; his incessant need to please those around him, even when it made him uncomfortable, God, my heart broke for him because Declan saw him for him and didn't want change or put him in a mould like others tried to.
The ending and epilogues were probably my favourite parts of Colin and Declan's story; I literally couldn't stop smiling, there were tears in my eyes because it was such a touching a beautiful end to their story. They deserve it and all the happiness in the world.
And to add, Anna, Blaire, please let it be that there is a romance developing between them, because I noted the way Blaire was around Anna! Omg, a sapphic romance between those two would be everythingg!!
This really was one of my favourite reads and couples of 2026!
Thank you to Sara Cate and her team for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review; I it's always a pleasure being on your content team, and cannot wait to create some Colin and Declan inspired content. I'd also like to thank Siena at Sourcebooks for the e-arc from NetGalley.
Tropes
Best friends to lovers
second chance
grumpy x sunshine
virgin MMC
dual timelines
Yearning 100x
February 13, 2026
The start was very good but it lost me towards the middle. The bdsm aspect was fine until it wasn't. I think it just wasn't for me but I still give it a three because I really liked the beginning and the very end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sara Cate just always hits!! Promise Me is a second chance friends to lovers romance in the Sinful Manor series. Told in dual timeline, we follow Declan and Collin as we see their friendship form from their first meeting to present day, where they are meeting against for the first time in years since everything fell apart between them. In present day, Declan is helping host a house party for the family when suddenly Colin shows up with his fiancé. Declan soon learns the party is actually pre-wedding festivities and this sets off story filled with tension and angst. They are forced to face their past and the feelings that they have never been able to let go of. Declan has to decide whether he wants to fight for Collin or let him go forever. The dual timeline completely won me over because we got to see how important these two were to each other. I do with the second chance hit a bit more emotionally but I still enjoyed this one. It was fast faced, spicy, and the ending confession was the sweetest! Will Watt, Shane East, and Kelli Tager were amazing in this audiobook narration and brought emotion, humor, and vulnerability to all of their performances!
read if you like:
- second chance
- grumpy sunshine
- dual timeline
- friends to lovers
- m/m romance
- spicy 🥵🥵🥵
trigger warnings for parental death, grief, mental health, depression, and anxiety!
Thank you so much to Sara and her team, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Sourcebooks Audio for the eARC and ALCs in exchange for my reviews! 💙
read if you like:
- second chance
- grumpy sunshine
- dual timeline
- friends to lovers
- m/m romance
- spicy 🥵🥵🥵
trigger warnings for parental death, grief, mental health, depression, and anxiety!
Thank you so much to Sara and her team, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Sourcebooks Audio for the eARC and ALCs in exchange for my reviews! 💙
February 3, 2026
This book took me on such a roller coaster! I’ll be honest in the first couple chapters I really just did not vibe with Declan. There was just something about his aura that told me I was probably going to DNF this and I am so glad I continued to read bc that very quickly changed. This story was so beautifully done! I’m not really a fan of flash back type situations but the way this book was done was absolutely incredible! I felt all the emotions throughout this book. The amount of times this book broke my heart and also healed it was such a ride. I can’t really properly articulate the things this book truly made me feel but I’m so glad I got the chance to feel them. This was my introduction to Sara Cates work and I’ll say I’m a fan and can’t wait to check out her other works!
February 14, 2026
Once she decided to completely villainize the fiancé, it got very predictable. The decision was clear and it took away all the tension. It became very manufactured and lacked originality. It was too easy. There was no complexity and made Colin seem very weak.
Wouldn’t it have been far more interesting to have the fiancé be kind and loving with Colin and Declan still so attached that their past couldn’t be ignored. ANGST! So there was something actually at risk?? This had zero risk.
I will say there were a few wonderfully tender and passionate moments but not enough to balance out how dull this was overall. The flashbacks were more interesting than the present. I did a lot of skimming because, as is the norm now, it’s too long.
Wouldn’t it have been far more interesting to have the fiancé be kind and loving with Colin and Declan still so attached that their past couldn’t be ignored. ANGST! So there was something actually at risk?? This had zero risk.
I will say there were a few wonderfully tender and passionate moments but not enough to balance out how dull this was overall. The flashbacks were more interesting than the present. I did a lot of skimming because, as is the norm now, it’s too long.
February 17, 2026
Oh gosh y'all, I love second chance romance and this one was SO BEAUTIFUL. Colin and Declan meet in college, become best friends, and then eventually develop a friends with benefits situation where they meet up for a week together once a year. The only problem is that Colin is DESPERATELY in love with Declan, who refuses to acknowledge that they could ever be something more. Colin (understandably) reaches a breaking point and leaves. They don't see each other for years... until Colin shows up at Declan's secluded Scottish manor to get married. AHHHH I CAN HARDLY STAND IT. Obviously it's set in Scotland, so there's a KILT SCEIEN and a RAIN KISS and much brooding around the major and just THE MOST immaculate vibes.
While Declan and Colin play around with Dom/sub roles throughout the book, a lot of their relationship is just about kink exploration and finding ways for Colin in particularly to be comfortable enough to actually voice what he needs, and I really liked that (especially in contrast to Colin's awful fiancé).
I listened to the audiobook for this one and OH MY STARS HIGHLY RECOMMEND. It's Will Watt with a Scottish accent and Shane East with a British accent, and it's DUET, and OMG I could listen to that ALL DAY.
This is my first Sara Cate novel and it will NOT be my last. I'm super curious now if she's writing the next book as sapphic (based on some stuff that happens at the end), because if so IMMEDIATELY sold.
While Declan and Colin play around with Dom/sub roles throughout the book, a lot of their relationship is just about kink exploration and finding ways for Colin in particularly to be comfortable enough to actually voice what he needs, and I really liked that (especially in contrast to Colin's awful fiancé).
I listened to the audiobook for this one and OH MY STARS HIGHLY RECOMMEND. It's Will Watt with a Scottish accent and Shane East with a British accent, and it's DUET, and OMG I could listen to that ALL DAY.
This is my first Sara Cate novel and it will NOT be my last. I'm super curious now if she's writing the next book as sapphic (based on some stuff that happens at the end), because if so IMMEDIATELY sold.
February 26, 2026
As someone who’s quite picky about her second chance romances…THIS is how I like them. Dual timeline, so much angst and heartbreak in the present time. I actually loved the fact we only got one POV for each timeline. I thought it lended so much to the story telling. The way Sara weaved the two inner monologues together let the reader see what was really going on emotionally between these two. You got their love story from the start and then added in the rekindling of that second chance in such an angsty way. Perfection.
Declan and Colin had me swooning and crying. Their story was one of soulmates. Five easy stars.
Declan and Colin had me swooning and crying. Their story was one of soulmates. Five easy stars.
November 26, 2025
Promise Me by Sara Crate was a great love story. In Scottish England with a dual point of view time line. Two MM best friends fall in love. Then when things fall apart they don't see each other for years, but when they do one of them is about to get married. Second chance, best friends to lovers," it's always been you" Beautifully written.
My opinion, thank you, Netgalley and sourcebooks casablanca for this ARC
My opinion, thank you, Netgalley and sourcebooks casablanca for this ARC
February 20, 2026
No he podido parar de leer 🫢Me ha gustado mucho , le ha costado lo suyo a Declan pero como ha adorado a Colín 💕ambos tenían mucho que sanar.
February 22, 2026
So good
I loved this
You honestly can't go wrong with Sara Cate
These two were everything
Tension flying off the page
The pining was everything
Fantastic book
Glad they got their hea
I loved this
You honestly can't go wrong with Sara Cate
These two were everything
Tension flying off the page
The pining was everything
Fantastic book
Glad they got their hea
February 13, 2026
Sara told this story SO perfectly. The dual timeline that showed the progression of their relationship over the years combined with the dual POV was literal perfection. The characters were phenomal. They were written to be so relatable and their struggles were so real and raw. This book brough the tension, the yearning, and the heat. Even with the sub/dom dynamics, she found a way to make it fresh and beautiful. Sara always knocks it out of the park, and this was no different!
Promise Me is a dual POV, MM romance that takes place primarily in Scotland at Barclay Manor. Declan, the younger brother of Killian from the first book in this series, is now in possession of the manor. His sister, Anna, is using the estate as a wedding venue - and Declan is quite sick of it. Wanting some peace and solitude, Declan and Anna make a deal - he coordinates their next wedding. If successful, Anna will find a new venue to host weddings and leave Declan in peace. The problem? They have no clue who the couple is due to their celebrity status. Until the couple arrives and it's none other than his best friend from university, Colin. Declan is forced to not only coordinate the wedding for his best friend, but is also forced to face their past and present feelings for one another.
Promise Me is the 2nd book in the Sinful Manner series, following after the first book entitled "Keep Me." This can be read as a standalone but may spoil events from the couple in the first book!
Promise Me is a dual POV, MM romance that takes place primarily in Scotland at Barclay Manor. Declan, the younger brother of Killian from the first book in this series, is now in possession of the manor. His sister, Anna, is using the estate as a wedding venue - and Declan is quite sick of it. Wanting some peace and solitude, Declan and Anna make a deal - he coordinates their next wedding. If successful, Anna will find a new venue to host weddings and leave Declan in peace. The problem? They have no clue who the couple is due to their celebrity status. Until the couple arrives and it's none other than his best friend from university, Colin. Declan is forced to not only coordinate the wedding for his best friend, but is also forced to face their past and present feelings for one another.
Promise Me is the 2nd book in the Sinful Manner series, following after the first book entitled "Keep Me." This can be read as a standalone but may spoil events from the couple in the first book!
February 11, 2026
DNF (I just want to preface this by saying it is nice to see that this book brought joy to everyone…it just wasn’t for me)
I tried reading it I just couldn’t get into it. It seemed very biphobic…and one of the sex scenes started off hot but made me feel disgust. At the word “back entrance” which as a gay man immediately gives me the ick and makes me think the person doesn’t understand bodies. Like both characters are cis men…so they should only have the one hole? Back entrance implies that there is a front entrance which there isn’t…I’m just kind of tired of seeing this phrase in MLM romance books written by women. I am fine with women writing gay fiction…but just like with anything outside of your own experience please do research.
I tried reading it I just couldn’t get into it. It seemed very biphobic…and one of the sex scenes started off hot but made me feel disgust. At the word “back entrance” which as a gay man immediately gives me the ick and makes me think the person doesn’t understand bodies. Like both characters are cis men…so they should only have the one hole? Back entrance implies that there is a front entrance which there isn’t…I’m just kind of tired of seeing this phrase in MLM romance books written by women. I am fine with women writing gay fiction…but just like with anything outside of your own experience please do research.
February 23, 2026
3.5⭐️rounding up solely for Colin. This IS an emotional story with a clever dual timeline narrative, but I have to say it loudly: it’s STUPID!
This story once again reminds me why I’m drawn to narratives with structural variation. It shows that the author has put thought into the storytelling rather than settling for a straightforward, "lazy" approach. Even if I end up emotionally toyed with by deliberately disorienting pacing, the result is usually far more interesting. Heaven knows how much I despise boredom.
This isn’t just a dual timeline — it’s an asymmetrical countdown. The sections set over the past eight years build toward the seven-year breakup, and the closer that countdown gets, the more anxious and heartbroken I feel. Meanwhile, the present timeline spans only seven days. Seven days to fix what took years to break — and I can’t look away.
Beyond the countdown structure, the fixed narrative perspective is also a smart choice. The past — told solely from Colin’s point of view — traces the arc from hopeful anticipation to complete heartbreak. The present — limited to Declan’s perspective — embodies regret and awakening.
I know some readers may dislike the use of a single POV at each stage, but I think the author deliberately amplifies the emotion that most needs to be heard in that moment. The other feelings are allowed to seep through between the lines. It’s a restrained narrative choice, but one that sharpens the emotional blow instead of diffusing it.
Another welcome surprise: the story avoids the kind of endless, bloated internal monologues I usually can’t stand. The prose may not be top-tier, but it strikes a balance between simplicity and subtlety. It doesn’t try too hard to dazzle — it simply does its job, and that’s exactly what this story needs.
However, as the story moves closer and closer to its inevitable “reunion,” I find myself increasingly convinced that the romance is fundamentally rotten. At its core, it resembles the all-too-familiar “jerk top / self-sacrificing bottom” dynamic often seen in East Asian danmei tropes.
Colin is wonderful. He deserves someone far better than Declan. His only real mistake was falling in love with someone so selfish, hypocritical, and cowardly. I almost felt like opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate their breakup.
Declan is written as someone traumatized by losing his parents at thirteen — emotionally stunted, incapable of intimacy or commitment. Fine. That’s a valid character foundation.
But trauma stops being an explanation when it turns into a long-term excuse. For eight years — eight — he treated Colin like a seasonal convenience, something to return to when it suited him. Even after Colin nearly lost his life, nothing fundamentally shifted. Not urgency. Not growth. Not accountability.
Eight years is not a footnote. It’s youth. It’s time you don’t get back. Especially when you’ve already been reminded how fragile life is — how quickly it can disappear under four wheels on asphalt. And yet, Declan keeps refusing to take Colin’s outstretched hand.
Trauma my ass! It’s not the problem here. Avoidance is. Declan is fucking filthy rich. He has the resources, the money, the access to therapy — he simply fucking chooses not to do the work required to love Colin properly!!!
Fine. The damage has already been done. So how does Declan earn Colin’s forgiveness?
✨He barely does anything.✨
Redemption without effort isn’t redemption. It’s convenience.
Also, I noticed the author rarely writes M/M romance; she may not realise that in this genre, college roommates becoming friends then lovers with a bisexual awakening doesn’t need to take four whole years. Those petty hesitations feel very MF‑vibe and are unrealistic - they’re men first, gay second.
Wow! I’ve never written such a long review in my life. That probably says everything — this story moved me, whether in admiration or in frustration.
This story once again reminds me why I’m drawn to narratives with structural variation. It shows that the author has put thought into the storytelling rather than settling for a straightforward, "lazy" approach. Even if I end up emotionally toyed with by deliberately disorienting pacing, the result is usually far more interesting. Heaven knows how much I despise boredom.
This isn’t just a dual timeline — it’s an asymmetrical countdown. The sections set over the past eight years build toward the seven-year breakup, and the closer that countdown gets, the more anxious and heartbroken I feel. Meanwhile, the present timeline spans only seven days. Seven days to fix what took years to break — and I can’t look away.
Beyond the countdown structure, the fixed narrative perspective is also a smart choice. The past — told solely from Colin’s point of view — traces the arc from hopeful anticipation to complete heartbreak. The present — limited to Declan’s perspective — embodies regret and awakening.
I know some readers may dislike the use of a single POV at each stage, but I think the author deliberately amplifies the emotion that most needs to be heard in that moment. The other feelings are allowed to seep through between the lines. It’s a restrained narrative choice, but one that sharpens the emotional blow instead of diffusing it.
Another welcome surprise: the story avoids the kind of endless, bloated internal monologues I usually can’t stand. The prose may not be top-tier, but it strikes a balance between simplicity and subtlety. It doesn’t try too hard to dazzle — it simply does its job, and that’s exactly what this story needs.
However, as the story moves closer and closer to its inevitable “reunion,” I find myself increasingly convinced that the romance is fundamentally rotten. At its core, it resembles the all-too-familiar “jerk top / self-sacrificing bottom” dynamic often seen in East Asian danmei tropes.
Colin is wonderful. He deserves someone far better than Declan. His only real mistake was falling in love with someone so selfish, hypocritical, and cowardly. I almost felt like opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate their breakup.
Declan is written as someone traumatized by losing his parents at thirteen — emotionally stunted, incapable of intimacy or commitment. Fine. That’s a valid character foundation.
But trauma stops being an explanation when it turns into a long-term excuse. For eight years — eight — he treated Colin like a seasonal convenience, something to return to when it suited him. Even after Colin nearly lost his life, nothing fundamentally shifted. Not urgency. Not growth. Not accountability.
Eight years is not a footnote. It’s youth. It’s time you don’t get back. Especially when you’ve already been reminded how fragile life is — how quickly it can disappear under four wheels on asphalt. And yet, Declan keeps refusing to take Colin’s outstretched hand.
Trauma my ass! It’s not the problem here. Avoidance is. Declan is fucking filthy rich. He has the resources, the money, the access to therapy — he simply fucking chooses not to do the work required to love Colin properly!!!
Fine. The damage has already been done. So how does Declan earn Colin’s forgiveness?
✨He barely does anything.✨
Redemption without effort isn’t redemption. It’s convenience.
Also, I noticed the author rarely writes M/M romance; she may not realise that in this genre, college roommates becoming friends then lovers with a bisexual awakening doesn’t need to take four whole years. Those petty hesitations feel very MF‑vibe and are unrealistic - they’re men first, gay second.
Wow! I’ve never written such a long review in my life. That probably says everything — this story moved me, whether in admiration or in frustration.
February 12, 2026
• MM romance
• Dual timeline
• Best friends to lovers
• Second chance
• Scottish MMC x British MMC
• Dom x Sub exploration
• College setting
• Reunited after years apart
• Emotional angst with heavy yearning
• Right person wrong time
• Tender x Guarded
My gosh! Another Sara Cate win! This book was beautiful and so damn compelling! I'm usually not one for a dual timeline, but getting to see the history that spans over fifteen years between these two was absolutely EVERYTHING. I was hooked from the very start!
One thing that I love about Sara Cate's writing is her ability to write such a beautiful story while tying in so many relatable knk discoveries. For me, the knk/microtropes can sometimes overshadow some stories. But I never feel that way in a Sara Cate book! They are so perfectly expressed while holding on so well to the story itself and the growth of the characters! It's honestly jaw dropping how well she combines the two!
Collin and Declan's story was jaw dropping! Tied to so many emotions that kept them apart over the years! But the way she brought them together was incredibly well done! Their HEA was so satisfying! I didn't want this book to end! And the epilogue. You aren't going to want to miss it.
And I loved getting to see characters from the previous book!!! 😍
Audiobook review
Duet narration
Narrated by Shane East and Will Watt
I am forever such a huge fan of both Will and Shane, and when I found out that they were narrating this book together, I couldn't have been more excited!!!
Will did such an incredible job handling every emotion Declan battled with. Especially in the current timeline! Declan had so many emotions when he realized he might be losing Collin forever after seeing him for the first time in person in over 7 years! And the BEAUTIFUL way Will poured so much into his performance as Declan had me so freakin' captivated by this audiobook!
And paired with Shane's beautifully tender way he brought sweet Collin to life! I just couldn't get enough. I didn't want it to end. Collin was such a tender soul. And the things he had to come to terms with when it came to his relationship with Declan and the pain it was causing him were so perfectly captured by Shane.
I can't recommend this audiobook enough! These two absolutely nailed their performances for these two characters!!!
• Dual timeline
• Best friends to lovers
• Second chance
• Scottish MMC x British MMC
• Dom x Sub exploration
• College setting
• Reunited after years apart
• Emotional angst with heavy yearning
• Right person wrong time
• Tender x Guarded
My gosh! Another Sara Cate win! This book was beautiful and so damn compelling! I'm usually not one for a dual timeline, but getting to see the history that spans over fifteen years between these two was absolutely EVERYTHING. I was hooked from the very start!
One thing that I love about Sara Cate's writing is her ability to write such a beautiful story while tying in so many relatable knk discoveries. For me, the knk/microtropes can sometimes overshadow some stories. But I never feel that way in a Sara Cate book! They are so perfectly expressed while holding on so well to the story itself and the growth of the characters! It's honestly jaw dropping how well she combines the two!
Collin and Declan's story was jaw dropping! Tied to so many emotions that kept them apart over the years! But the way she brought them together was incredibly well done! Their HEA was so satisfying! I didn't want this book to end! And the epilogue. You aren't going to want to miss it.
And I loved getting to see characters from the previous book!!! 😍
Audiobook review
Duet narration
Narrated by Shane East and Will Watt
I am forever such a huge fan of both Will and Shane, and when I found out that they were narrating this book together, I couldn't have been more excited!!!
Will did such an incredible job handling every emotion Declan battled with. Especially in the current timeline! Declan had so many emotions when he realized he might be losing Collin forever after seeing him for the first time in person in over 7 years! And the BEAUTIFUL way Will poured so much into his performance as Declan had me so freakin' captivated by this audiobook!
And paired with Shane's beautifully tender way he brought sweet Collin to life! I just couldn't get enough. I didn't want it to end. Collin was such a tender soul. And the things he had to come to terms with when it came to his relationship with Declan and the pain it was causing him were so perfectly captured by Shane.
I can't recommend this audiobook enough! These two absolutely nailed their performances for these two characters!!!
February 11, 2026
I absolutely loved Promise Me by Sara Cate!
What's inside:
Second Chance
MM love story
Broody Scottsman
Grumpy x Sunshine
Best Friends to Lovers
Dual Timeline
Virgin MC
Spice
“I’m sorry it was only eight days a year to you. It was never just eight days to me. You were with me every bloody day.”
This is a well written love story that spans more than a decade, full of stolen moments, yearning and coming to terms with what you want and what you deserve
Colin is quiet and shy, and has been very sheltered by his mother. Declan is brash and charismatic and tends to be the life of the party. They meet when they are roommates at university and quickly become inseparable best friends during their 4 years there. Right before they graduate the lines between friendship and something more become blurred and then everything changes.
Before leaving university, they vow to spend time together every summer to maintain their friendship.Through the years they both come to treasure this time together until one day changes everything and they lose touch after having a falling out.
Now its years later and Colin's fiance has booked Declans family home to host their wedding. When they come crashing back into each others lives they are forced to face their past and the feelings they still have for the other. With just seven days until the wedding Declan must decide whether to let Colin go or fight for the only person he has ever loved.
The dual timeline really makes this story hit home. We get to experience their past so we can truly understand what it means when Colin shows back up in Declan's life engaged to another man. The yearning and heartbreak are strong, and I definitely found myself falling in love right along with them throughout the years.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in less than a day because it was more important to keep turning then page than to be a responsible adult. Definitely recommend this book if you love a good second chance love story with all the feels and the heartbreak of giving up on the only person you really ever wanted.
What's inside:
Second Chance
MM love story
Broody Scottsman
Grumpy x Sunshine
Best Friends to Lovers
Dual Timeline
Virgin MC
Spice
“I’m sorry it was only eight days a year to you. It was never just eight days to me. You were with me every bloody day.”
This is a well written love story that spans more than a decade, full of stolen moments, yearning and coming to terms with what you want and what you deserve
Colin is quiet and shy, and has been very sheltered by his mother. Declan is brash and charismatic and tends to be the life of the party. They meet when they are roommates at university and quickly become inseparable best friends during their 4 years there. Right before they graduate the lines between friendship and something more become blurred and then everything changes.
Before leaving university, they vow to spend time together every summer to maintain their friendship.Through the years they both come to treasure this time together until one day changes everything and they lose touch after having a falling out.
Now its years later and Colin's fiance has booked Declans family home to host their wedding. When they come crashing back into each others lives they are forced to face their past and the feelings they still have for the other. With just seven days until the wedding Declan must decide whether to let Colin go or fight for the only person he has ever loved.
The dual timeline really makes this story hit home. We get to experience their past so we can truly understand what it means when Colin shows back up in Declan's life engaged to another man. The yearning and heartbreak are strong, and I definitely found myself falling in love right along with them throughout the years.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in less than a day because it was more important to keep turning then page than to be a responsible adult. Definitely recommend this book if you love a good second chance love story with all the feels and the heartbreak of giving up on the only person you really ever wanted.
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