Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Quintessence #1-10

Quintessence: The Complete Collection

Rate this book
She's just a housekeeper. She has debts. She needs a job.

They're geniuses. They have money. They need a housekeeper.

More importantly... they need her.

A new job leads to a happily-ever-after Sascha could never have foreseen...



Read the complete Quintessence Collection, a timeless love story, in one volume for the first time ever.

Over four-hundred-fifty thousand words!

Contains never-before-published bonus scenes.

1658 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2020

736 people are currently reading
251 people want to read

About the author

Serena Akeroyd

155 books6,260 followers
USA Today and International Best Selling Author Serena Akeroyd aka G. A. Mazurke is most known for her mafia and MC series set in the Five Points Mob Universe. 


Avid reader of all things romance, she first started her career as a why choose author in both contemporary and paranormal.

She eventually made her way to MF romance where she found her groove with the O’Donnelly brothers, the Satan Sinners and most recently the Valentini Family. 



In her back list you can find some MM, MF, MFM and Why Choose romances. 
HEA guaranteed!

When not writing Serena is either reading, traveling or coloring. 





Follow me on Amazon :
Serena Akeroyd

Follow me on Facebook :
Serena Akeroyd Author

Follow me on Instagram :
@serena_akeroyd

Follow me on Bookbub
Serena Akeroyd

Fly into the weird by joining my readers’ group on FB:
Serena Akeroyd's Divas

Follow me on Twitter :
@serenaakeroyd

Want to get my latest news? Sign up for my newsletter:
Newsletter

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
370 (60%)
4 stars
153 (25%)
3 stars
60 (9%)
2 stars
18 (2%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
Profile Image for Serena Akeroyd.
Author 155 books6,260 followers
Read
December 12, 2020
Live NOW and FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited

One of my favorite stories of mine, and for many of you, is Quintessence. Today, December 12th is Hers To Keep's bookaversary and to celebrate it I decided to give myself and all of you a little present!

I came across this cover, which reminded me of Sascha, looking outside a window in Russia and the itch to write more about them started to become a nag I could no longer ignore!

So I'm putting Hers To Keep, Theirs To Cherish and Hers To Hold in one big ebook! And I have added all the extra content that I had previously posted on my reader group, plus close to 10K words of new extra scenes!

So, if you, like me, miss hearing from Sascha and her men Devon, Kurt, Sean, Sawyer and Andrei. If you want little glimpses into what Tin was like as a kid, then dive in! It is on sale for a limited time at 99 cents and of course it is available KU.

And if Quintessence is unknown to you or, if like so many, you haven't read book 2 or book 3 in this collection, and frankly, you are missing out on some delicious RH, then you will also want to pick it up!

Amazon Worldwide




Profile Image for Cynthia Mejia.
328 reviews61 followers
December 12, 2020
Sexy, Sensual, & Satisfying!

Quintessence! Where to start? I mean…really. I guess before I tell you how much I love this series, I can tell you that I came to find this story after the first set was collected into the omnibus known as Hers to Keep. It was only the second story I had read from Serena Akeroyd and it completely cemented her as one of my most favorite authors of all time. I know…that’s a big claim. But you have to understand, Serena Akeroyd has an incredible way of creating characters that work their way into your heart, make you believe they are real, and make their stories into these epic adventures that you cannot help but be swept up into.

Hers to Keep is seriously one of the sexiest books I’ve ever read. I have read smutty books, don’t get me wrong. Quintessence is sexy, sensual, and satisfying. This is where we meet Sascha, the sassy American, and her five odd, quirky, sexy assortment of men. Watching them fall in love was so much fun. Each of the relationships between Sascha and her guys is unique and the characters reflect their individual personalities so well. Theirs to Cherish sees Sascha and her guys wrapped up in each other, as well as individually focused on their lives and careers. Love and passion are ever-present, but so are the struggles of loss, stress, and violence that strain relationships to the breaking point. Hers to Hold was the perfect ending to this story, though even saying ending brings up a bittersweet emotion for me. Seeing these characters’ lives evolve, and a bit of a time jump to glimpse the future, is always something I appreciate in stories. I feel like I have gone on an emotional roller coaster of a ride with Sascha, Devon, Kurt, Sawyer, Andrei, and Sean. These characters hold such a special place in my heart. They are not just for Sascha to hold, they are for me to hold too.

So, now, Serena Akeroyd has taken all of these stories and put them into one giant collection. And on top of that, she’s given her fans a little added bonus at the end that will make you smile. As with with every book I’ve read from her, the pace is fantastic, the story is well-developed, the characters are well-rounded, the dialogue is smart and funny, and the steamy scenes will fog up your Kindle! I love that while the relationships are at the foreground of the story, the background is full of intrigue, danger, and just the regular curve balls life sometimes throws our way. I said it above, Serena Akeroyd is definitely one of my all-time favorite authors. If you love a well-crafted romance story that follows the road less traveled, then Serena Akeroyd is the author to take you on that journey and Quintessence will steal your heart along the way!
Profile Image for Shauni.
579 reviews
September 9, 2021
The Quintessence series is a breath of fresh air, especially in the RH sub genre? It’s so completely different than any other RH books I’ve read before... it’s real. It tackles real life issues that people face in their every day lives, pain, grief and illness.
It’s a breathtaking story, that leaves the you hooked from page one until the very end, growing so attached and emotionally invested in Sascha’s and the guys’ lives. It’s an emotional rollacoaster... one that I’ve been on since the first time I read this series, and reading this collection it’s like I never got off. The Quintessence series is unforgettable, and sticks with you. Filled with all the man candy that you can possibly imagine, all so different to each other yet it completely works... you get the best of everything! Some of the scenes are unbelievably steamy and how could they not be? Especially with Studs like Andrei and Sean. Devon & Sawyer will forever be my favourites though, the bond they have is something special 🖤
Since I completed the series, I’ve always been greedy and wanted more... this complete collection has given me everything I wanted and more. I completely swooned with the bonus content, whether it was moments between sascha and the guys or the guys with Tin. Just like the series, the bonus content is AMAZING. Tin & Alice though, they’re perfect and I loved seeing some of their future! Can’t wait to read more!
Whatever you write Serena, it’s always a phenomenal piece that manages to suck you in and this series and the new content is nothing different! If you’re reading this, I hope you give it a go or reread the series again!
Profile Image for Joy Whiteside.
4,928 reviews116 followers
December 17, 2020
This collection is amazing and will keep you enjoyed for hours. Each of these stories are amazing and will suck you in until you finish. The best thing is that as you finish one the next story is there for you. This collection has amazing characters that you will fall in love with and no matter what happens you want to be there for them. This is a collection that needs to be read and there is no doubt that it needs to be on your TBR list.
Profile Image for Deborah Peach.
712 reviews25 followers
March 29, 2022
Quintessence by Serena Akeroyd was my first reverse harem and I fell in love with Sascha and her Quintet of men.

Sascha is an American woman living and working in the United Kingdom. Sascha attends an interview for the position of housekeeper in a very unusual home. The residents of the household have been best friends since their college days and have remained housemates since. The salon of men all ooze intelligence and that is sexually appealing to Sascha. Each of the five men is a leader in his chosen profession. Sean is a highly sought after criminologist. Andrei is a Russian born economist. Kurt is a Pulitzer Prize winning author. Sawyer and Devon are mathematical geniuses. To say that the attraction is instantaneous between Sascha and the men is an understatement. All of London could go up in flames from the scorching heat the men feel towards her. Sascha cares little for what others think, easily falling head over tea kettle in love with each member of the household as she gets to know their little foibles. Their love is far from conventional but it suits them all perfectly. During their time together they will travel from their beautiful home in London to the cold of Russia, the ruggedness of Scotland and the splendour of Veronia. Join along on the journey of a lifetime with Sascha and her Quints. Where the highs outnumber the lows and the love is endless. Serena Akeroyd shows how beautifully love grows and guarantees you a happily ever after, no matter the odds. I will definitely read this over and over again. Better than 5 out of 5 stars!
Profile Image for Anne-Susann Linde.
88 reviews2 followers
December 12, 2020
This is the Box set of the Quintessence series. It's a 3 book contemporary RH series with some bonus content at the end..
Hers to keep is the first book. Sasha applies for a job as a housekeeper for 5 brilliant guys who live together. All the characters are really deep. I love that there are so many differences between all the guys but that they have such a strong friendship between all of them.
The second book in the series Theirs to Cherish was as good as the first one. There are so many things that happened and the relationship between all of them evolved beautifully!
The third book is Hers to hold. This book is everything the series needed as an ending. I had to cry, laugh, feel so many times throughout my read. It was amazing! I love the twist in the middle of the book. I didn't want the story to end but if it had to this was the best possible way!
Profile Image for ashtag_reads.
435 reviews38 followers
December 15, 2020
This collection was one of my first RH reads, and was my first Serena Akeroyd series! All together in one gorgeous collection, you get to enjoy this story without pause - though, you may need to.

The emotion pours off the pages of this book. There is so much pure love and adoration between all of the characters, it’s impossible to pick a favorite. First it was Sean. Then Andrei. Then Devon. Then Kurt. Then Sawyer. Devon may have my heart just the tiniest bit more.

This series is probably one of the most realistic RH’s I’ve read. The obstacles they endure are so real you can feel them in your bones. I’m not going to lie. This gets brutal. But... well I’ll let you see for yourself how everything works out.
Profile Image for Jemma Newby.
1,724 reviews10 followers
December 12, 2020


This series was the first ever reverse harem book I'd ever read and wow it blew my mind. I was hooked from the very first page. It's now been put into one huge collection with added extras and wow them extras do not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone that will listen. No matter how many times i read it i still fall more and more for sascha and her 5 hot geniuses.
47 reviews8 followers
Read
January 3, 2024
HEADS UP: FORMATTING ISSUE WITH KINDLE EDITION — there’s some kind of mess-up with the kindle version of this where once it gets to page 705, every page after that is still 705 —- so like 2/3rds of the book, probably almost 1000 pages, is all page 705 in the kindle format. Literally page 705 starts at 41% and page 711 is at 99%. So it’s hard to know where you’re at in the book unless you want to search by book “location” rather than page, which is super hard to conceptualize. It sucks because this big omnibus has bonus scenes scattered throughout the ten books that the smaller omnibuses don’t. So I’m switching over to the smaller omnibuses (first one is Hers to Keep and contains books #1-5) and might check back to read the bonus chapters on this version.

I don’t want to leave a bad review/rating for this complete omnibus because of a formatting issue when I love the story, so I’m going to email the author Serena about this. Hopefully it will be fixed in the future!
Profile Image for Charlotte.
4,013 reviews62 followers
December 14, 2020
Quintessence is a glorious collection of books that follow Sascha (FMC) an Ex-pat American living in London who applies for a job of housekeeper. To 5 brilliant minded men (Devon, Kurt, Sean, Sawyer and Andrei) all living together. In a family unit of their own choosing. Sascha breezes in with her fiesty, sexy, sassiness to liven up their lives and in turn give them live, care and understanding that they didn't gave before. I loved the dynamic/relationship between Sascha & the guys. All with their own quirks and backstories which gave them a more multi-faceted, rounded story to each of them. This whole collection features Her to keep, Theirs to Cherish and Hers to hold as well as bonus scenes so hours and hours of great reading which I hardly noticed how quickly I read through them all. They suck you in and grip you until the very end. Full of laughs, love, a few tears, plenty of steam but lots of heart with characters that you can't help but love. It's a cracking read and I loved every minute reading it
319 reviews3 followers
December 16, 2020
The quintessence series was the first books I read by Serena Akeroyd and I have loved re reading them again and the characters you just fall in love with. Right from the first page were Sascha gets out off her vintage cherry red caddy you know your going to be hooked and you are. The relationships sascha has with her men are all different each one brings something different to there relationships but they all respect, love and protect each other no matter what.

The books deal with every day life issues that you can relate to and understand and they made me laugh and I cried my heart out as well while reading these books they are just amazing and a must read you just get court up in the world of sascha , Kurt , sawyer , Sean and Devon. I have to say my favourite male character is Devon I just fell in love with him right from the start Devon is just unique absolutely love him.
Profile Image for Jacqueline (on brand).
753 reviews3 followers
December 14, 2020
I am a glutton for contemporary RH and this collection of the Quintessence Series had me nonstop reading even when I was supposed to be working! (Shhh don't tell my boss) and I may have stayed up way past midnight.

Choosing a favorite Male Lead in this series is so hard, Serena literally gave almost all my fantasies in each of the guys. In most series, I typically lean towards favoring one Male Lead over another but that is not the case here.

The additional scenes were amazing and gave me just that little sneak peak into this world I needed since this series ended. I love TIN!

If you love contemporary romance with passion and some suspense than Read this collection! You will not be disappointed!
Profile Image for Norma's Nook.
424 reviews13 followers
December 14, 2020
The Quintessence Series was my introduction to Serena Akeroyd, and this fabulous story will always hold a special place in my heart. It's one of the best contemporary romances out there. Not just for the RH genre, but for romance as a whole. Sasha is smart, nurturing, beautiful, quirky, and everything her brilliant, erratic, workaholic men need. Each of these geniuses have their own special sides to bring to the equation, and together, they give Sasha everything. Full of love, light, loss, headache, steam and absolute joy, The Quintessence Series is one I'll be reading over and over again for forever.💜💜
894 reviews25 followers
December 13, 2020
This was the first series that I read by Serena Akeroyd and it is still one of my hands down favorites. Devon absolutely has my heart. He is awkward and nerdy and absolutely perfect in his own way. I love how he loves Sascha. He is fiercely protective of her and their family and I love to see him interact with the others. Sascha is fierce and strong and I love how she handles all the men in her family. The fact that you can find the whole series in one book now is absolutely perfect for a reread at some point in my near future. This is one of my go to series when I get in a reading funk and I am thrilled to have this version of it.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
24 reviews2 followers
December 17, 2020
Love this series

I love this series so much. I feel like I know the characters and reread it every few months just to put myself in a good mood. Its like coming home. You don't get bored the ups and downs makes sure that you don't put this book down. I can't recommend this book enough.
25 reviews
December 12, 2020
Quintessence is a captivating, witty, romantic collection. It has a complex plot that peels back into layers, twisting and turning in unexpected ways that keep you on the edge of your seat! If you enjoy a romantic journey and self growth of quirky, brilliant, loyal and loving characters, this one's for you! Sasha and her men will have you experiencing a roller coaster ride of emotions, as their bond grows stronger! Quintessence: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, is an incredible binge worthy read! Serena Akeroyd is the Queen of love and romance!
Profile Image for TINA WILLIAMS.
2,107 reviews23 followers
December 13, 2020
I was thrilled when I found out that Quintessence: The Complete Collection was going to be released. I adored this beautiful series and couldn't wait to visit this family again. I have missed Sascha and her gorgeous men. The bonus material was just perfection. Seeing these characters again was just heartwarming and Tin, just swoon worthy. I love this series and can't recommend this collection enough!!
5 reviews
December 13, 2020
This is the first full RH series that I’ve read and finished. I came across the characters in this series during my read of another Serena Akeroyd book and I just had to find out more. I instantly fell in love with Sascha and her men. They go through many ups and downs and severe losses but they always remain true to one another. They show you what true love and loyalty is.
Profile Image for BookishLeoReads.
144 reviews
December 14, 2020
This was the series that introduced me to Serena's work and it is one of my favorite RH books EVER. You won't help but fall in love with Sascha and her men from the start! I will be doing my third re-read of this series for the holidays and will most likely continue to re-read from time to time. That's how good this collection is!
289 reviews2 followers
December 13, 2020
Hot series alert

Sasha and her guys are definitely in my top ten favorites. This series made me feel all the feels. I honestly thought this series was written in a way that made it life like so it was easier to dive in to their world. I would love to see this end up as a tv series it would be amazing.
Profile Image for Lizi.
32 reviews3 followers
December 12, 2020
Finally together in one giant and epic collection. The story of Sascha and her men. This is, I would say, one of the best contemporary RHs written. I come back to it time and time again and I'm so happy to have it all together. If you haven't read this, then why not? And if you have, then read it again. You know you want to.
Profile Image for Nicole .
516 reviews7 followers
December 12, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Quintessence is my very favorite! From the time I first opened the book and read the first few pages, I was totally hooked in! I knew this would always be in my top RH books.

The characters are witty, hot and fantastic. They all bring something to the table and Sascha is a gem. Devon will make you fall in love and you'll soon fall for the rest 😍
77 reviews3 followers
December 13, 2020
So happy!

Ahhh... my Quintessence men! Super excited that Serena let us revisit them, along with a preview of Tin & Etta <3

Kust remember, I licked Devon first, so he's all mine and I have proof of Serena agreeing!
Profile Image for Jens_Book_Cubby.
1,518 reviews55 followers
December 12, 2020
This series is downright phenomenal! It is by far one of my favorite contemporary RH series. I love the bonus content in this collection, I loved getting to see more from these amazing characters. Hopefully we will see more from them all in the future.
Profile Image for Iva Beth DiLoreto.
1,238 reviews37 followers
December 13, 2020
Loved it

Quintessence is absolutely amazing. Its one of my favorite series. You can never get enough of Ms. Akeroyds writing. She always draws you in
Profile Image for Jennifer Alexander.
1,319 reviews4 followers
December 12, 2020
Loved it

I loved the originals but with all of this bonus content added I’m even more in love with this family. Plus is it 12/12 yet??? I love that little hidden gem!!
Profile Image for Romance Reader Obsession.
223 reviews13 followers
December 16, 2020
Quintessence is a collection of all three books about Sascha and her men and the challenges they face as a family.

This is one of the very first RH books that I have read and I immediately fell in love. It is also the very 1st book by Serena Akeroyd. One of my favorite things about Serena’s writing is that she writes about real life situations and she draws you into the book so you can feel the pain, the emotion, the love and hatred. So many things that happen in everyday life for us are expressed deeply in this series even with it being about a Reverse Harem.

Hers To Keep
“Some people need time, Sascha. We’re not them. When you know what you need, and the answer is right in front of you, why delay?”

Theirs to Cherish
“We all lead our own lives, but we come together because we're a family. That's what we do, guys. We move in and out of each other’s lives, coming together before heading off to take on our own particular sphere.”

Hers to Hold
“There was nothing you could do,” she replied huskily. “I hate to say it, but I just needed time. I love you for giving that to me. I love you for not judging me, for just giving me what I needed from you.”

Make sure you're ready for a passionate, emotional and traumatic story. Cuddle up on the could and ONE-CLICK, you will not be disappointed!
205 reviews5 followers
October 23, 2022
One of the things Serena Akeroyd does exceptionally well is write well connected stories. This is certainly the case in the Quintessence Collection (Hers to Keep, Theirs to Cheris and Hers to Hold and bonus material).

Sascha is a strong character, feminine and fierce at the same time. Her relationships with her men (Sean, Andrei, Kurt, Sawyer and Devon) are strong and built individually. Her connection with each man is real and organic It does not feel forced. Also, each man is distinct and strong in their own unique ways. They are not just different shades of the same color.

I am particularly fond of Devon. His lack of social awareness and honesty is endearing to me, but then I married a man who has some of those traits.

This collection is HUGE and there is an amazing amount of content. The bonus material is amazing. I love little snippets into the characters future.
Profile Image for Lady Z.
34 reviews6 followers
May 21, 2021
Their Precious!!!!! One Collection to Rule Them All!!!!!

This is one of my favorites Series or Collections, Period!
Quintessence is what made me like RH and also set my bar for RH. From witty and layered Characters & Dialog to original and smooth Plot & Pacing this series gives us it ALL. To get this whole complete collection with extra bonus content beautifully re-covered makes me almost jealous of new readers getting to freshly experience the world Quintessence. ENJOY!

(* Also, grab "Theirs: The Veronia Collection also by Serena Akeroyd as there is Character Crossover)
Profile Image for Kaija.
1,512 reviews29 followers
August 2, 2025
So glad I got the complete collection
I laughed and cried while reading this. It’s amazing and perfect, the realities that the characters face and the way they come out stronger together is just perfect
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.