Keep Me by Sara Cate Summary, Characters and Themes
Keep Me by Sara Cate is a steamy, emotional romance about two broken souls forced into an arrangement that neither expects to turn into something real.
Killian Barclay, a reclusive and brooding Scottish heir, has built a reputation for hosting debaucherous parties in his ancestral manor. Sylvie Devereaux, a tough, reckless New Yorker, stumbles into his world while chasing a family heirloom. When Killian’s sister offers Sylvie a deal—marry Killian for a year to fix his reputation in exchange for ten million dollars—she can’t refuse. But as their chemistry ignites, their marriage of convenience becomes something far more complicated: a passionate love story filled with secrets, betrayals, and the fight for something real.
Summary
Sylvie Devereaux is impulsive, headstrong, and desperate for change. Tired of her stagnant life in New York, she jumps at the chance to travel to Scotland with her boyfriend, Aaron, in search of a family heirloom.
Her reckless curiosity leads her to sneak into Barclay Manor, an imposing Scottish estate with a scandalous reputation. She expects to find history—what she gets instead is Killian Barclay.
Killian, the gruff and enigmatic owner of the manor, is notorious for his wild house parties and detached demeanor.
He catches Sylvie trespassing and assumes she’s a spy sent by his meddling sister. Their encounter is tense, crackling with unspoken attraction and hostility. Though Sylvie manages to escape unscathed, the moment lingers in her mind.
Back in New York, her life crumbles when she discovers Aaron has been cheating on her—with her best friend. Broke, heartbroken, and lost, she’s unexpectedly approached by Anna Barclay, Killian’s sister.
Anna has an offer: marry Killian for one year to improve his public image, and in return, she’ll receive ten million dollars. It sounds too good to be true, but Sylvie—desperate and intrigued—agrees.
Killian is less than thrilled when he learns of the arrangement. He’s spent years keeping people at arm’s length, and now he’s being forced into a marriage with a woman he barely knows.
But his family insists that this will help repair his reckless reputation. Begrudgingly, he accepts.
Sylvie moves into Barclay Manor, where she and Killian clash immediately. He’s domineering and emotionally closed off, while she refuses to be controlled. Their arguments are laced with undeniable attraction, and soon, their tension shifts into something far more intimate.
Killian introduces Sylvie to his world of power, wealth, and unconventional relationships, and despite herself, she finds it intoxicating.
As they navigate their fake marriage, Sylvie starts to see beyond Killian’s cold exterior. He’s a man haunted by his past, burdened by his family’s expectations and secrets.
Beneath the icy facade, there’s someone deeply wounded, someone she can’t help but want to understand. At the same time, Killian finds himself drawn to Sylvie’s fire—her defiance, her passion, her refusal to be just another person who uses him.
Their relationship turns into something real, but the deeper they fall, the more complications arise. Killian struggles to trust, constantly battling the fear that Sylvie is only there for the money.
Sylvie, on the other hand, starts questioning her own motivations.
At first, she agreed to the deal for financial security, but now, she’s in too deep. She realizes she loves him—but does he see her as anything more than part of the arrangement?
Meanwhile, his family’s manipulations become clearer. Anna never orchestrated this marriage to help Killian—she did it to push him out of the manor, to control him.
As Sylvie uncovers the full extent of their schemes, she feels torn between loyalty to Killian and her growing guilt over her role in their deception.
When the truth finally unravels, Killian is devastated. The man who swore never to love again has given his heart to Sylvie, only to feel betrayed. Sylvie, fearing she’s lost him for good, considers walking away.
But love isn’t about convenience or money—it’s about choosing each other despite the odds.
In the end, Killian breaks free from his past, choosing to fight for Sylvie just as she fights for him.
Their marriage—once built on lies—becomes something real, something worth keeping. The epilogue hints at a future where love wins over manipulation, and their bond is stronger than the deal that first brought them together.
Characters
Sylvie Devereaux
Sylvie Devereaux starts off as a reckless, impulsive woman who feels trapped in a stagnant life. She is facing the combined weight of a broken heart and financial ruin after discovering her boyfriend, Aaron, has been cheating on her with her best friend.
This emotional blow forces her to act on a whim and accept a strange proposition that ultimately changes her life. Sylvie initially enters her arrangement with Killian Barclay purely for financial gain, agreeing to marry him for one year in exchange for ten million dollars.
However, over time, she grows emotionally invested in him. The more time she spends with Killian, the more she starts to care for him.
She transitions from being a woman who runs from her problems to someone who is willing to fight for love and emotional connection. By the end of the story, Sylvie realizes that her love for Killian transcends the material reasons she first agreed to the marriage.
She chooses him not for the financial security, but because she genuinely loves him, marking a significant shift in her character’s development.
Killian Barclay
Killian Barclay, the brooding, cold, and reclusive Scottish lord, begins the story consumed by his past and a deep distrust of others. Living in self-imposed exile, he has distanced himself from his family and the world around him.
His complicated history with his family weighs heavily on him, and he is reluctant to let anyone in emotionally. When Sylvie enters his life, he initially views her as just another part of his sister’s manipulative scheme.
As the story progresses, however, Killian’s emotional walls begin to break down. Despite his best efforts to resist the growing feelings for Sylvie, he falls in love with her.
His journey involves grappling with guilt, the trauma from his past, and an unwillingness to trust others. Over time, he softens, learning to embrace vulnerability and acknowledge his feelings.
He fights for their relationship, even when faced with family manipulation and external pressure. Killian’s growth is marked by his acceptance of love and his willingness to let go of past fears for the sake of his future with Sylvie.
Themes
The Transformation of Personal Identity Through Unconventional Relationships
One of the most prominent themes in Keep Me is the exploration of personal identity, particularly how it evolves when individuals are placed in circumstances that challenge their sense of self. Sylvie Devereaux begins the story as a woman reeling from heartbreak and financial ruin. Her identity is heavily shaped by her past relationships and the expectations placed on her by her parents.
Initially, she agrees to marry Killian for financial reasons, reflecting a sense of transactional thinking rather than emotional depth. However, as she becomes more entangled in the dynamics of the Barclay household, Sylvie is forced to confront who she really is beyond her past, her heartbreak, and her external expectations.
Similarly, Killian Barclay starts as a brooding, emotionally closed-off man, burdened by his family’s past and his own sense of guilt. His identity is initially defined by his family’s expectations, his wealth, and his self-imposed exile.
As the relationship with Sylvie deepens, both characters experience a gradual redefinition of self, breaking free from the roles they’ve been pigeonholed into and realizing that their identities are not static but fluid.
The Destructive Nature of Family Expectations and the Power to Break Free
The theme of family expectations is another powerful undercurrent throughout the novel, showcasing how familial influence can shape personal choices and even dictate emotional well-being. Killian’s relationship with his family is complex and filled with manipulation, particularly with his sister Anna, who devises the plan to pair him with Sylvie.
His family doesn’t truly care for his well-being but instead is focused on how they can manipulate his reputation for their own gain. Killian’s isolation and cold demeanor are directly linked to the toxic expectations placed on him, as well as the guilt he feels for failing to meet those expectations.
This theme extends to Sylvie’s character arc as well, who, while not directly manipulated by her family, carries the scars of neglect. Her decision to marry Killian is not just about the money but also about taking control of her life, breaking free from her family’s indifference.
Throughout the narrative, the characters’ struggles with their families highlight how oppressive and destructive familial expectations can be. The eventual breaking free of these constraints shows the characters’ growth.
By the end of the story, both Sylvie and Killian confront and defy their families, asserting their autonomy and choosing their own paths, which leads to a more authentic love and a more liberated sense of self.
Emotional Vulnerability and the Battle Against Repression
The theme of emotional vulnerability is explored deeply through the characters of Killian and Sylvie, whose initial emotional repression creates barriers in their relationship. Killian’s inability to open up emotionally is rooted in his traumatic past and the deep-seated fear of being hurt again.
His default mode is to shut people out, to remain cold and distant. Sylvie, on the other hand, is initially more impulsive and emotional but has been hardened by past betrayals.
Despite her hard exterior, she is still vulnerable, and her decision to marry Killian reflects her emotional fragility, not just financial desperation. As the narrative progresses, both characters slowly chip away at their emotional walls.
Sylvie is forced to reckon with her deep-seated fears of abandonment and unworthiness, while Killian must learn to overcome his fear of emotional intimacy and trust.
Their journey together is marked by moments where they are both forced to confront their emotional wounds, and their eventual ability to open up to each other signifies the triumph of love over fear and repression.
This battle against emotional repression is not just about shedding past baggage but about the ongoing challenge of being open and vulnerable in a world that often rewards emotional self-sufficiency and control.
The Fine Line Between Love and Manipulation in High-Stakes Relationships
One of the most thought-provoking themes in Keep Me is the exploration of manipulation, particularly in the context of relationships that start under deceptive pretenses. Sylvie and Killian’s marriage begins as a financial transaction, a deal that promises mutual benefits without emotional investment.
At first, the characters’ motivations are rooted in practical desires—money and reputation—but as their relationship progresses, the lines between manipulation and genuine affection blur. Sylvie is initially manipulated by Anna into accepting the proposal, but she soon realizes that the deeper her feelings for Killian grow, the more complex the situation becomes.
Killian, too, is initially driven by a need to improve his public image, but as he becomes more attached to Sylvie, he struggles with whether he’s manipulating her emotions to keep her close or if he’s truly in love with her.
The tension between their roles as puppets in their families’ schemes and their blossoming emotional connection is a constant struggle. The novel asks a poignant question about whether love can ever be truly free of manipulation when there are external pressures, and whether love that begins with deceit can transform into something real.
By the end, both characters must grapple with the consequences of their initial manipulations and decide whether they will allow their relationship to evolve beyond its transactional origins.
The Healing Power of Love and the Risk of Emotional Investment
Another significant theme in Keep Me is the transformative power of love, particularly the healing that comes when two broken individuals learn to trust and care for each other. Both Sylvie and Killian enter their arrangement with walls built around their hearts—Sylvie after being betrayed by those she loved, and Killian after years of familial neglect and guilt.
However, their evolving relationship teaches them that emotional investment, though risky, can be a source of healing. For Sylvie, her growing feelings for Killian represent not just the chance for financial security but an opportunity to reclaim her own sense of worth.
She discovers that true love is not transactional, and the emotional connection she shares with Killian becomes a source of strength. For Killian, loving Sylvie is an arduous process that forces him to confront the ghosts of his past and let go of his fear of intimacy.
The theme of healing through love is not without its complications, as both characters have to fight through their own emotional scars to reach a place of mutual understanding and affection.
The risk of emotional investment is evident throughout the book, especially in moments where either character considers walking away to protect themselves from potential hurt.
In the end, however, the emotional journey becomes one of personal growth, as both Sylvie and Killian choose to love and trust each other, thus allowing their love to heal the wounds of their pasts.