“I’m not a good man. I never pretended to be one.” — Julian Esguerra
If you like your romance with a side of danger, a dash of obsession, and a whole lot of smut, Keep Me is the dark chocolate truffle of the genre: rich, bitter, and impossible to stop devouring.
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🖤 Plot Summary: Love in a Cage (With Silk Sheets)
Keep Me is the second installment in Anna Zaires’ Twist Me trilogy, continuing the story of Nora Leston and Julian Esguerra—a relationship that began with abduction and evolved into something far more complicated (and steamy). After being kidnapped in Twist Me, Nora now finds herself not just captive but married to Julian, a powerful arms dealer with a penchant for control and a disturbingly tender obsession with her.
The novel picks up post-wedding, with Nora adjusting to her new life in Julian’s luxurious compound. But this isn’t a honeymoon in paradise—it’s a psychological minefield. Julian’s enemies are circling, and Nora’s own identity is unraveling under the weight of her trauma and desire. As external threats mount, so do the emotional stakes. Can love bloom in captivity? Or is this just Stockholm Syndrome with a diamond ring?
🔥 Characters: Morally Gray and Emotionally Raw
Julian Esguerra Julian is the ultimate dark romance antihero: lethal, possessive, and unapologetically dominant. He’s not here to redeem himself—he’s here to own Nora, body and soul. His complexity lies in his contradictions: he’s a killer who cradles Nora like she’s made of glass, a man who says “She can love me, but she can’t change me” and means it. He’s not trying to be good—he’s trying to be hers.
Nora Leston Nora is no shrinking violet. Though she begins as a victim, her arc in Keep Me is one of agency reclaimed through unconventional means. She’s torn between fear and desire, resistance and surrender. Her internal monologue is raw and often heartbreaking: “I still don’t fully understand my own reactions to Julian. How can I crave the man who stole me?” Her evolution is messy, uncomfortable, and deeply human.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Proceed With Caution (and Maybe a Safe Word)
This book is not for the faint of heart. It dives headfirst into themes that are controversial and potentially distressing:
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Abduction and captivity
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Non-consensual sexual situations / dubious consent
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Emotional manipulation
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Violence and murder
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Psychological trauma
Zaires doesn’t sanitize the darkness—she marinates in it. Readers should be aware that Keep Me explores the blurred lines between consent and coercion, love and obsession, safety and danger.
💋 Tropes: Dark Romance Bingo
If you’re a trope junkie, Keep Me is a decadent buffet:
TropeDescription
Kidnap Romance Julian abducts Nora in book one, and the fallout continues. Possessive Antihero Julian is the poster child for “mine. ”Forced Proximity Nora lives in Julian’s compound, surrounded by guards and luxury. Marriage of Convenience (or Control) Julian marries Nora to protect her—and claim her. Stockholm Syndrome Nora’s emotional journey flirts with this psychological phenomenon. Power Imbalance Julian holds all the cards—money, freedom, and physical dominance.
💬 Quotes That Slap (and Sting)
Zaires’ prose is sharp, sensual, and often chilling. Here are a few standout lines:
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“I stole her. Nora, with her long dark hair and silky skin. She’s my weakness, my obsession.”
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“I can, however, change her.” — Julian, redefining toxic masculinity with poetic flair.
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“Cognizant of the camera trained on us, I smile widely and do my best to look like a happy, glowing bride.” — Nora, masking trauma with mascara.
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“You’re mine, baby. Mine to keep, mine to love, mine to protect.” — Julian, whispering sweet nothings that sound like threats.
😂 Humor in the Darkness: A Few Light(ish) Moments
While Keep Me is drenched in angst, Zaires sprinkles in moments of levity—often through Nora’s dry wit and inner commentary. Her sarcastic observations about Julian’s over-the-top protectiveness and the absurdity of her situation offer brief respites from the emotional intensity.
Imagine being gifted a diamond necklace by your kidnapper and thinking, “Well, at least he has taste.” That’s the kind of twisted humor that makes this book oddly addictive.
🎭 Final Thoughts: Is It Love or Lunacy?
Keep Me is not a traditional romance. It’s a psychological deep dive into obsession, trauma, and the human capacity to adapt to extreme circumstances. It’s uncomfortable, erotic, and emotionally charged. Zaires doesn’t ask you to approve of Julian and Nora’s relationship—she dares you to understand it.
If you’re looking for a safe, sweet love story, run far away. But if you crave emotional carnage wrapped in silk sheets, this book will ruin you in the best way.
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