My Praise Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Praise by Sara Cate kicks off the Salacious Players Club series with a taboo, high-heat romance full of forbidden longing and emotional growth. When newly single Charlie needs her deposit back from her ex, she approaches his estranged father, Emerson Grant—a powerful, dominant silver fox and co-owner of a members-only sex club. Their first meeting takes a wild turn when Emerson mistakes Charlie for his next “sub” and gives her a dose of “praise” she never knew she craved. The shock? She likes it, and so does he. Emerson offers her a job as his executive assistant at the club, and workplace tension quickly boils into a complicated, off-limits relationship. Their affair is fraught with secrets: he’s nearly twice her age, her ex’s father, and her new boss. As the club’s kinks and a swirl of found-family friendships add intrigue, Charlie is forced to decide if she’s brave enough to fight for her own desires—inside and outside the bedroom.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Sara Cate balances wildly spicy scenes with genuine, heartfelt character arcs. Charlie’s journey from self-doubt (thanks to an emotionally neglectful ex) to sexual confidence and emotional assertiveness is satisfying and inspiring. Emerson isn’t just a standard “dom”—he’s a silver fox with his own wounds, learning to let go of control and open himself to love. The taboo of the ex-boyfriend’s dad/age-gap/forbidden romance is handled with respect and real heat. There’s so much more than kink: the friendships and working relationships surrounding the club add depth, warmth, and plenty of fun, making this a true “found family” series. The writing is smart, often funny, and offers moments of fluff and drama alongside creative, consent-centered kink scenes. The characters’ emotional honesty makes the happily ever after feel well-earned—and very swoony.
Who Will Like This Book
If you love high-steam, forbidden age-gap contemporary romance with workplace drama, BDSM elements (especially praise kink), and character growth, Praise is for you. Great for fans of books featuring silver foxes, strong heroines, found-family vibes, and creative club settings. There’s a brisk pace, plenty of banter, and enough angst to keep things propulsive, but things end with a real sense of hope and empowerment. Content warnings: explicit sexual content, kink/BDSM (praise, spanking, bondage, exhibitionism), workplace power imbalance, age-gap (approximately 20 years), and complicated family dynamics. This book is not for those seeking low-angst, fade-to-black, or “sweet” romance, but it’s perfect for readers seeking edge, heart, and unashamed heat.
Tagged As
forbidden romance, age gap, praise kink, BDSM, workplace romance, ex’s dad, silver fox, club setting, found family, dual pov, independence, sexual empowerment, strong heroine, taboo, emotional growth, high steam, series, contemporary, indie romance
Steam Level
Expect frequent and explicit open-door scenes with a focus on praise, power play, and creative club-centered scenarios. This book is for readers who want bold, boundary-pushing spice wrapped in heart and humor.
