Book Review: The Good Girl Effect by Sara Cate

The Good Girl Effect was a spicy story with intriguing characters that I enjoyed. It's time to meet Camille and Jack!

The Good Girl Effect (Salacious Legacy #1) by Sara Cate

Jack St. Claire is desperate. A grieving single father, he buries himself in his work—running a brand-new kink club in Paris. Instead of handling his grief, he’s built a fortress around his heart, and it’s time he hired someone to help him take care of his daughter before things get worse.

Camille Aubert wasn’t looking for a new job. She just wanted to return a lost love letter she’d found within the pages of a book. But when she’s mistaken for a job candidate and hired as Jack’s live-in nanny, something tells her this is exactly where she needs to be.

Shortly after arriving, Camille discovers a strange room in the apartment that sparks her curiosity—and hints at a dark, mysterious side to Jack that she’s desperate to uncover. The lines between professional and personal blur dangerously as the heat between them becomes impossible to ignore. She’s drawn to the broken man who hides his grief in ropes and bondage, and she challenges him in ways he never thought possible.

Caught between her growing feelings for Jack and the ghosts of his past, Camille must decide: can love heal a heart still grieving, or will their passion destroy them both?

3 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed The Good Girl Effect. I found the characters to be intriguing and the story interesting. It was a fast-paced, easy read that gave me just what I needed to keep me turning the page.

I liked getting to know Camille and Jack. They have a lot of ups and downs, and I liked watching them circle each other as feelings started to build. Jack is cold and harsh because he’s dealing with a lot of grief, and I felt for him even though his choices frustrated me at times. Camille had a big heart and was sweet, but she was also stubborn and pushed his buttons, almost too much at times. I liked their push and pull, letting down their guards, the sexual tension and heat with BDSM elements, and seeing Jack start to heal as they came together.

Overall, I liked the story, and while I was enjoying it, for me, it was missing depth. I got just enough details to keep the story moving along, but I felt there was more telling than showing, so I never totally connected to the characters. I switched back and forth between reading and the audiobook, and I really liked the audio. I could feel the emotion in the different narrators’ voices, bringing the story to life. I appreciated that.

Even though I didn’t totally love this, it did pull me in. I kept reading right until the end because I wanted these two to get their happily ever after. For me, this was a good read!

Complimentary copy received.