The Rule of Three

Salacious Legacy #2

by Sara Cate

Three hearts. One consuming fire.

Julian Kade hates everyone. But when a power outage traps him in a Paris elevator with sharp-tongued chef Freya Kapoor and charming street fighter Archer Wilde, an unexpected spark ignites between them. By the end of the twelve hours that follow, they’ve shared their darkest desires…and formed a bond none of them could have expected.

Freya Kapoor has dreams, and getting sidetracked by two billionaires wasn't part of her careful plan. But when the two men who’ve begun to dominate her body and mind present Freya with a chance to open the restaurant of her dreams, boundaries quickly blur…and her orderly world gets increasingly complicated.

Archer Wilde never thought he'd stop fighting long enough to get tangled up with two such different people. Yet the three of them fit together like nothing before, unlocking hidden desires they never knew they craved. But beneath the perfect facade are three individuals battling demons of their own. Ultimately, as passion deepens into something far more dangerous, Freya, Julian, and Archer will have to choose whether they're willing to risk everything they’ve built for a love as fierce as it is free.

Genres: Romance, M M F, Why Choose, BDSM, Dark Romance, Audiobook, Billionaire Romance

434 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Sara Cate is a USA Today best-selling author of steamy romance and sexy book boyfriends. Although she writes a wide range of tropes, Sara is best known for her age gap and taboo romances. One thing you can expect from her entire collection is heaps of steam and plenty of angst.

Living in Arizona with her husband and kids, Sara spends most of her time reading, writing, or baking.

Find out more at: www.saracatebooks.com

Reviews

[veerali]

── ✦ pre-read review

we have an indian fmc here!! i hope she doesn't eat dosa with strawberries 🥰
buddy reading with my fave manas 💚

[manas (suffering)]

buddy reading with my favorite, vee! 💚

[Helen Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should not have a favorite character, but Julian Kade is definitely my favorite. He was the one character that made me feel the most seen because the things that he was struggling with, even though I’m not a billionaire, I could definitely relate to. Most importantly, the anxiety that he was dealing with and having to put on his armor before he saw people who were not his family members was just so real. Also, I thought that Freya and Archer were exactly what he needed to understand that he doesn’t have to be perfect all the time.

I truly adored the feelings this book evoked, and I had tears rolling down my face by the end. I don’t think I can ever recover from the emotional toll this took, but I would not take anything back.

[Anja · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️|2🌶️

I was SO excited to jump back into this world and honestly the book started out soooo strong.

Julian was peak grumpy. Freya came in sassy and confident. Archer was laidback, goofy, and instantly lovable. That elevator meet cute when they get trapped together was so good!!

But somewhere along the way it just fell apart for me.

I never felt a real connection between Freya and the guys. If anything this felt like it could’ve easily been an MM romance with Freya as the close friend on the sidelines. Her dynamic with them just never hit the way I wanted it to.

She’s inexperienced and wants to take things slow which is totally valid and totally respected. But the jealousy over Archer and Julian spending time together? Not it👏🏻 Especially when she was perfectly content having solo time with Archer. That double standard felt hypocritical and really bothered me.

Julian broke my heart with his anxiety and fear of not being meant for a relationship. Bu then finally tearing down his walls and proudly telling his family he loved Freya and Archer had ME so proud of him🥹

So now to be six months into this throuple and Freya still wanting to hide them…what do you mean girl???? And don’t even get me started on the third act breakup. The sheer hypocrisy and the gaslighting toward Julian…absolutely not.

The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get because there were far more things I didn’t enjoy than things I did.

That said, Julian and Archer together were incredible. Their chemistry felt real, natural, and so well done. I loved every scene with just the two of them.

Thank you Sara Cate for this ARC in exchange for my honest review 🩷

[Sarah | Sarahs.BookCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

✩4

Rule #6: Never get yourself stuck in an elevator with two billionaires.

✦What to Expect✦
•Billionaire
•S-x club
•Menage
•Best friend’s brother
•K!nk exploration

✦Characters✦
•Julian Kade
•Freya Kapoor
•Archer Wilde

✦Narrated By✦
•Brandon Francis
•Simone Lewis
•Teddy Hamilton
•Desiree Ketchum
•Jason Clarke

✦Fav Quotes✦
It’s not every day you get stuck in an enclosed space with two of the most gorgeous people you’ve ever laid eyes on.

He lifts my head, watching me like he’s about to devour me. I wish he would.

“Fuck yes, Chef,”

“You don’t think you belong to me after only two weeks? You belonged to me that first night we met.”

I am part of both of them at this moment. My body and soul belong to them.

For him, I’d do anything.

✦Thoughts✦
Sara Cate books cure me and are always the best time! This trio was just what I needed and I ate it up!!!

These three were HOTTTTT!!!! Their first encounters with each other had me 🤭🤭. Then having to be stuck in an elevator for hours and forming this bond!! Loved it!

Each one of them had their own internal battles. Since the first book I was so curious about Julian and I felt for him & understood why he was the way he was.

DADDY RONAN is still just a precious man & loved seeing him with Julian at the end.

I also lovedddd Archer & Freya!!! I lovedddd the dynamics between the three of them and they all were just sooo hot together.

The train/metro scene was f’ing HOTTT!!! I’ll never recover lol

Audiobook:
The audio was sooooo good!
Loveddddd the narrators!! They did amazing job!

✦Micro-Tropes✦
•He 💦 in his pants
•Golden showers

•ARC Read•

✦ Bookish links to follow ✦
Bookstagram • Goodreads • BookBub • Storygraph • Fable

[Ally Bateman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

The story started really strong with the introduction of three very different people who were all holding back their true selves from their families. In a romcom classic moment they all get stuck together in a broken elevator and trauma bond. From then on their connection is electric and they each have a specific need they want filled. This part was good.

Then Freya happened. She was the third in their trio, but felt more like the antagonist of the story. She kink shames them but gets her needs met, she says “I love you” stupid fast but is too ashamed of being in a non conventional relationship to tell anyone, she’s insecure and jealous, she takes their money for a restaurant but makes them feel bad for having money, she doesn’t even know Lucien’s name after having him drive her for 6 months, the list goes on. When she picks a fight and then Julien acts exactly how she predicted, she blames him and outs him for not taking his meds, I was so over her. I get that the story needed conflict, but I would have liked it better if it was just Julien and Archer. Freya was too hyperbolic and a bit of a “pick me”.

The Julien and Archer moments were so raw and primal and honest. They both had similar upbringings and daddy issues that they just worked for me. Definitely looking forward to Amelia and Matis next!

[Amity Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I loved this book! This book was a rollercoaster of emotions! So much emotional depth, mixed with delicious spice, and truly just an amazing story that just pulls you into all the feels.

2 MMC Billionaires + a badass FMC chef= a recipe for a messy, chaotic, but extremely heartfelt ride that will have your heart strings tugging in the best way! I loved the chemistry between these characters. The added tension, the inner battles they fought, and the way they fit so perfectly. This was just an all around beautiful story!

I had the pleasure of doing the audio as well & this full cast was fantastic !! I loved the added emotion and fun it brought to the story! Teddy Hamilton, Simone Lewis, Brandon Francis, Desiree Ketchum, & Jason Clarke really brought it with this one!

If you love a taboo story that is so much more than just spice & will leave you hanging onto the every chapter, you definitely need to pick this one up!

[Kenia Coronado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ATE THIS BOOK UP! I listened to it on audio it was perfection!! The narrators kept me fully engaged the entire time. The plot was plotting, the spice was spicing! My favorite so far in the series!

[Persephone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this one! Maybe even a little more than the first one as far as storyline. There were times where I didn’t really get why Julian was the way he was, like it didn’t exactly make sense why he was so guarded, he didn’t really have that much of a reason to be lol I guess it was because of his daddy issues, but even still, he literally brought it all onto himself and made himself so guarded and not friendly. But I did enjoy how he let his guard down and started to open up for Archie and Freya.

Archie was my favorite! He had his own little issues but he brought fun and openness to the group. I enjoyed Freya as well. she was cute and innocent but really let herself open up and let loose. Each of them had their own good character development that I enjoyed. They all have a great dynamic and complement eachother.

I do wish that there was more that was happening in the actual club. I know that it is its own series and not SPC, but I wish that they had ventured more into doing things together at the club since it is a legacy series.

I still really enjoyed it and I love how Sara Cate sets the mood and scene and how she describes Paris. her writing style makes any book easy to get through and keeps you interested throughout the whole book. I have a good feeling about the next book and I am super excited for it considering the tropes!

[feliciaslibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars ⭐️
ALC review

I honestly don’t know what to rate this book. There is a lot of that I loved but there were a few things that did bug me. As someone who loves why choose, especially MMF, I really wanted to love this one. I totally thought that it would be a five star in the beginning, particularly because of the elevator scene which I loved.

I loved Julian Kade. He had the most character development and I loved how Sara handled his anxiety. The representation was accurate and cared with love. And I loved Onyx hihi.
And I liked Archer’s character. I mean he’s a boxer which was fun to have that aspect put into the story. I liked him, and I did really enjoy him and Julian’s relationship.
Our FMC, Freya, did have a strong arc in the beginning of the book. And I loved how valid she was for waiting until she found herself ready for doing stuff with the guys. Heck yes girl! But Freya ultimately got to frustrating once she became jealous and envious with Julian and Archer’s relationship and them spending their time each other. It got repetitive throughout the last 50 % and it honestly bugged me. If I’m going to read MMF, I would at least appreciate if all of the people involved would be on the same page and leave envy outside of the relationship.

But with that said, I still enjoyed myself plenty with this book. The Rule of Three does have delicious spice, fun locations, and lots of new kinks but also mental health representation and emotional healing. Seeing Daddy Kade again was truly the highlight. That old man can still get it.
And the audiobook made this experience so much fun! I loved narration of the talented actors. I highly recommend checking out the audiobook when it releases!

A big thank you to Sara Cate and team for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All of my thoughts and feelings in this review are my own.
I literally cannot wait to read Amelia’s book, which is releasing this fall!

[Bree]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

It might possibly be this series, but these books aren't doing it for me. I was a big fan of the Salacious Player's series, but for some reason, this series isn't hitting like that one did.

I did enjoy this one more than the first one. I DNF'd The Good Girl Effect, so the fact that I finished this one is a step up. I don't know if I was ovulating when I read the Salacious Player's Club, but I remember those books being good, and I actually enjoyed them. I realized after finishing this book that there was more I disliked than I liked, which is reflected in the rating. It wasn't bad per say but I would not reread.

I'll start off with what I liked. I love the anxiety representation through Julian's character, and I think Sara did a really good job with how she wrote his character and his experiences. The only other thing I like was how it didn't feel like one duo within the throuple was favored more than another. They always reassured one another and talked about boundaries. Also, loved Onyx and Onyx needed more time in this book!!

Ok, so now the longer list of things I disliked throughout this book. First, I wasn't the biggest fan of Julian and Freya. Archer was probably my favorite character, and he was so unproblematic. Yes, was he fighting people? who doesn't love a strong, beefy man!! Secondly, it felt a bit repetitive. As the audiobook went on, it felt like I was just listening to the same thing, and nothing was progressing forward. For me, the spice in this book didn't hit like the usual Sara Cate spice. It could totally just be me. I'm a mood reader, so sometimes it depends on my mood if I'm feeling the spice in a book or not, but while listening to this, the spice wasn't hitting.

Now that I'm thinking about it, maybe I only liked Archer because he's narrated by Teddy Hamilton BAHAHAH.

Huge thank you to Sara Cate for the ARC. I'll hold off on submitting my review until the release day!

[The Love Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - Sara Cate knows how to write a polyamorous romance, and The Rule of Three was no exception! This follows Julian (son of Ronan and Daisy), one of the smex club owners, Archer, a trust fund baby street fighter, and Freya, an up and coming chef (and best friend to Julian's sister). At first glance, they do not seem like they would fit, but a few hours stuck together on an elevator leads to a connection none of them expected.

I enjoyed how the characters met. I believe in kismet, and the notion that time doesn't always dictate how you feel about a person. Julian, Freya and Archer were vulnerable with each other in that elevator, and that kind of intimacy can't be overlooked. Combine that with the physical chemistry, and we had a good foundation for their relationship. All of them had various insecurities and character flaws that even grinded my gears at times, but ultimately they had to communicate and decide that their love meant more than a few miscommunications.

Julian's character is one of my favorite types of characters. They appear to have it together on the outside, and constantly push others away/don't let others get close, but inside he had the biggest heart. The author's representation of Julian's anxiety was perfect, showing how it can affect not only your psyche, but how you view the world and people around you.

Overall, I enjoyed this much more than the first book in the series. I liked catching up with the rest of the Salacious characters, and I'm excited about the next book (featuring Julian's sister)!

[Jen Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara Cate once again blew my freakin' mind with her storytelling! The Rule of Three is a total whirlwind that starts with the ultimate "stuck in an elevator" meet-cute. Imagine twelve hours trapped with a grumpy billionaire and a charming street fighter. (You're jealous right? Me too!!) It’s every bit as intense and scorching as it sounds, I promise. But beyond the immediate sparks, I fell head-over-heels for the way Julian, Archer, and Freya evolved. Watching Julian melt from a cold jerk into a man who finally feels safe enough to show his heart, and seeing Archer find a home in his partners instead of running, just absolutely gutted me in the best way possible. It’s that beautiful, messy reminder that the right people don't just see your flaws; they hold your hand while you work through them.

The heat in this book is delish (I mean c'mon - it's a Sara Cate book!), but it’s the raw mental health representation that made me give it a full 5 stars. Seeing Julian navigate his anxiety and Archer deal with his demons felt so authentic and handled with such care. I was literally giggling and dancing in my seat one minute, then clutching my chest with angst the next. It’s a story about finding where you belong and realizing that love doesn’t have to fit into a tiny, conventional box to be perfect. This unexpected little threesome brought out the absolute best in each other, and I'm totally here for it. To say I'm feral for the next book in this series (The Daddy's Girl) is a vast understatement!

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish Goodreads would allow us to do .5 in our stars ratings because even though I gave this book a 3 star it was definitely more 3.5 ⭐️.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review! I still can’t believe I got approved for this I was so pumped and couldn’t wait to devour this. Especially since it’s one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

First, I want to say I love Sara’s books. And the Rule of Three is no different. I really enjoyed it from start to finish.
It’s fun, it’s spicy and addicting. However, even with all that said this wasn’t my favorite book by Sara. But I’ll break it down with the pros/cons.

Let’s start with my cons first:
1. My biggest issue has to be Julian. And I knew from the previous book I was going to struggle with him. Julian is quite literally an “Ice Prince”. He’s mean, standoffish, and sometimes borderline cruel. Now yes underneath that exterior he is hiding a heart of gold. But his struggles and issues are all brought on by himself. And his “daddy issues” just seemed so unbelievable to me especially knowing who his father is. Now eventually Julian brings down his walls and communicates to his love ones. But the whole scenario with him felt like a stretch.

Pros:
1. I freaking love Archer & Freya. For Freya I loved that she was inexperienced. Watching her blossom and discover her sexuality with both men was so much fun to read. And of course Archer. He was by far my favorite of the group. I love that out of all of them he was the glue keeping them together. Plus he was absolutely hilarious and I devoured his POV the most.

Overall, like I mentioned even though this wasn’t my favorite by Sara. I still loved it and devoured it in less than 24 hours. And I can say with total confidence that I 100% recommend it and can’t wait to own my trophy copy!

[camms.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one does MMF like Sara Cate! I ate this book up!
The full cast audio made this immersive read a whole experience I can't put words too. So grab the audio for real! I absolutely loved this book and this series!

[Pana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. Loved their background stories and how it blended perfectly.
I’m certainly an archer girly 🫶🏽

[Brianna bribookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Sourcebooks for the copy in exchange for a review.

I kid you not - I will read a grocery list from this author at this point. I’m not kidding when I say I’m obsessed with Sara’s books… Everything I’ve read by her has been a 5 star. This book was no different!

[Molly]

5th May 2026

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have yet to read a Sara Cate book I didn’t immediately fall in love with; The Rule of Three is no exception 💚 While her books are some of the kinkiest/spiciest you’ll ever read, the spice is ensconced in real life troubles that make you both ache and fall in love with the characters. The Rule of Three explores the topics of anxiety, grief and how the loss of a loved one may impact those that follow, polyamorous relationships and how the world perceives them, and finding love in a very unlikely situation. It was a beautiful story about three people getting stuck in an elevator against their will, feeling unworthy of love, and choosing to remain together because they were wholeheartedly better as a unit.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quantity of spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Quality of spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
*There are 16 spicy scenes in The Rule of Three. I’ve included the rules/percentages at the bottom of this review. Please note these are based on the ARC version.*

The Rule of Three is the second book in the Salacious Legacy series, which is a spin off of the Salacious Players Club series. If you haven’t read the original series, I highly recommend you do so! Just like SPC, each of the Legacy books seems to start off with the same prologue but from the current MC’s POV - for Legacy, it’s when all the kids are reading Ronan’s email about the ownership of the club.

Our three MCs in this book are Julian, Freya, and Archer. Julian wears a mask of armor each and every day to protect himself from feelings and ever getting hurt due to caring about anyone. He deals with the constant pressures of anxiety but is ashamed to take the necessary medication. Freya is an aspiring chef. She has worked her ass off through life to get to where she’s at & moved to Paris in the hopes of opening her own restaurant. She is also Julian’s sister’s best friend. Archer is a lost man, constantly on the run from ever setting down roots. He lives in the self imposed shadow of his deceased brother and feels like everyone expects him to be Preston. The only thing that makes him feel alive is participating in illegal street fighting. He’s also the son of the couple from the first book in The Wilde Duet (loved this tie in).

Their meet cute takes place in an elevator when they get unexpectedly stuck for TWELVE HOURS - my actual nightmare. But instead of it being the worst 12 hours ever, they end up finding a genuine connection with each other that cannot be contained to the elevator. What begins as a friendship and the inability to stay away from each other, slowly turns into more. One thing Sara is truly excellent at is building the tension between the characters.

Freya is a virgin, so while she is insanely attracted to both Julian and Archer, she wants to take things slow.. but not too slow. The spice takes a bit to heat up but sheewww once it gets going, they do not stop 🔥 The Rule of Three is an MMF romance, and there are many scenes with all three but some with just Freya and one of the guys or just Julian and Archer. The great thing is, there was zero jealousy! Could have probably done without the golden shower scenes, but that’s just a personal preference.

These poor babies felt so unworthy of love and coped in different ways, none of them necessarily healthy. There are scenes that will make you want to scream at them to just communicate (I’m looking at you Julian and Freya), but their personalities balanced each other out in the end and the runner, Archer, seemed to be the voice of reason in those situations.

Freya’s genuine concerns on how their relationship would be perceived by the world at large and by her family made me so sad for her. That we live in a world where people can’t just accept love for love, no matter the form. That she almost lost the purest form of love due to the potential hate from others 🤬 but the unconditional acceptance in the end just made me so happy.

The anxiety rep was handled with such care and I think really showed how hard it is to accept that you need help, whether it be medication, therapy, or both. While you may feel like you’re doing great & you don’t need the help, your anxiety can eat you from within. It felt like Julian’s story and daily struggles reached through the pages to my heart; I wanted to wrap him in the biggest hug. His eventual conversation with Ronan had me in full on tears.

I could clearly go on and on about this book forever, I loved it so much! I can’t wait to see where the rest of the Salacious Legacy books go, but one thing is for sure, I know I’ll love them just as much! Thank you for the ARC copy, Sara and NetGalley! 🫶🏻

🌶️ Spicy Scenes 🌶️

1. Rule #1 7%
2. Rule #8 22%
3. Rule #15 39%
4. Rule #17 42%
5. Rule #19 46%
6. Rule #20 50%
7. Rule #21 54%
8. Rule #24 60%
9. Rule #26 66%
10. Rule #27 69%
11. Rule #28 70%
12. Rule #30 75%
13. Rule #32 79%
14. Rule #38 90%
15. Rule #40 93%
16. Rule #42 96%

[CHELSEA · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rule of Three | @saracatebooks
AVAILABLE NOW (paperback, ebook, audiobook)
3.5-4🌶️

SARA CATE GIVES AN EMOTIONAL MULTILAYER STORY WITH HOT SPICE! 👏🏼

Sara never fails at bringing the perfect mix of k!nk exploration, an emotional storyline, & highlighting acceptance in loving others no matter how or who they choose to love!

what to expect:
💚MMF romance
💚k!nk exploration
💚s*x club
💚best friends brother

🎙️: Full Cast @narratedbyteddyhamilton @brandonfrancisnarrator @thesimonelewis @jasonclarkereads @desireeketchum

Amazing narration between Teddy, Brandon, and Simone! They brought the connection and emotion to life with Julian, Archer, and Freya! I really enjoyed this trio together! 5 ⭐️ listening experience for my ear holes!

Julian, Archer, & Freya are completely different personalities from each other. Julian is standoffish & definitely an ass, but battling his own mental health dealing with anxiety while Archer does anything to feel something including fighting in illegal underground fighting rings, & Freya is an aspiring chef who has put her career above everything else including seeking out real love and intimacy with someone.

These 3 are so different yet they are all on the journey of trying to find themselves while also harboring so much fear from either their upbringing, dealing with mental health, or family expectations. Together these three find themselves stuck in an elevator together & during that time a real connection is formed that they weren’t expecting!

This is an MMF romance & it does not disappoint on the spice scenes or the emotions! These 3 are definitely hot together & I loved seeing the relationship between all three of them grow in love and acceptance of who they are individually but also together!

Sara does such an amazing job at highlighting mental health especially in men and she took so much care in how she represented Julian & Archer, but also how she represented Freya in her fear of being honest with her family about her relationship.

Thank you @saracatebooks for the advanced book and audiobook copy & for the absolutely amazing PR package! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Chelsea- cheesy_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara Cate will never fail me. Full RTC!

———————————

Okay I’m back!

Thank you to Sara Cate and Sourcebooks for a gifted copy of this book! All opinions are my own 💚

I really enjoyed this and for some reason I wasn’t sure initially that I would! Julian was just such a shit in The Good Girl Effect I wasn’t sure I was ready for his attitude 😂

Of course, bc Sara can make any character lovable, I ended up adoring Julian and his story. He’s such a softie with a heart of gold (don’t tell him I said that) and his journey to trusting others and taking the risks that come with opening ourselves up to others was so sweet. I related a lot to some of his fears and the armor he put on every day to make sure he was protecting his tender little heart.

I want to eat everything Freya cooked because it all sounded SO good. She was a really sweet character that could see right through the boys’ bullsh!t and straight to the core of who they were. I also did really enjoy how her path to opening up to new experiences was because I think it felt more realistic vs an idealized version of that exploration can look like in k!nk heavy books. Her curiosity mixed with hesitation felt much more approachable imo!

And Archer (Wilde!!!!). I kicked my feet when I realized we were getting another Wilde boy. What a fun tie in. I had a little more difficulty buying his hang ups because it really just felt…can I say childish?? I loved him as a character, I loved the humor and what he added to the dynamic. I just felt like his avoidance of his family was a little dramatic for me 😂

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and the direction it went! I’ve loved the Salacious Legacy thus far and I am SOOOO excited for the next installment 😛😛😛😛

[Tabitha Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Sara cate ever write anything that I’m not obsessed with??!! Highly doubtful! This was so good!
I don’t understand how she does it.
Throuple romances can be difficult to navigate but if it’s done with care and the precision Sara writes with, it comes across brilliantly. I had such a fun time with this. Not only was there relatable characters like Julian who suffers from anxiety living behind a mask of feeling like he’s not worth the trouble. Or Archer who feels insecure; like he’ll never be good enough for this relationship or his family. And we can’t forget about Freya, our Indian goddess who has a dream to own her own restaurant but struggles with this relationship and feeling it may be too radical in her more traditional upbringing.
When these three get stuck in an elevator during a thunderstorm, the tension and chemistry is leaping and thrusting off the page! Pun intended!
This book was spicy, fun and we found some new kinks in the Sara cate universe. Not all of them will be your “cup of tea” but Sara cate knows how to deliver them with care! How does she make a “golden shower” seem hot??!! Well she does.
I will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS drop everything to read a Sara cate book, I’ll re-read, I’ll listen to the audio, I’ll immersive read over and over! I can’t get enough of her world. 5 stars! Everything I expected and more!! Love love love!!! Can’t wait for the next one!!

[Sara J [saras kindle era] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara Cate is incapable of writing a bad story, I am convinced! This is book 2 in the Salacious Legacy (second gen from the SPC), and it is absolutely DELISH!

Audio: SO GOOD! Full cast, and they are phenomenal! Brandon Francis, Simone Lewis, Teddy Hamilton, Desiree Ketchum, & Jason Clark is an all star cast that delivers a fantastic performance! The emotions, the chemistry, the dynamics, & all the nuances in between, they truly make it a great listening experience, which made for an even better reading experience.

Story: I enjoyed this one so much, even when I struggled to like Julian sometimes haha! I appreciated that he knew he was a spoiled brat, but didn't make much of an effort to change that about himself. He owned who he was, except for that hidden heart of gold, & even with his coldness, I grew to love him. Freya & Archer grew on me much faster, Freya with her big dreams & goals for herself, & Archer with his fun personality! Big bad street fighter but such a sweet, fun, cinnamon roll of a man!

I really enjoyed how these three came together, from Julian being a total jerk to Freya (his sister's friend), all three being trapped in that elevator for HOURS, they way they started seeing each other afterwards. I loved their dynamics & how they balanced each other out, bringing out the best in each other. They each have their demons that they need to work on/through, either together or on their own, but how they learn to lean and rely on each other without expectations (eventually) is well done & such a sign of growth in all three of them.

Just like all Sara Cate stories, the chemisty & spice in this one is off the charts! Julian & Archer are more experienced than Freya, but they are so patient with her & helping her discover what she likes. They will have you panting!!

PS: the epilogue & bonus epilogue were total tearjerkers! It took some tribulations to get their HEA, but they do & it's beautiful!

*Thank you to Netgalley/the publisher for the ARC, & Sara Cate & Team for the ALC opportunity to give my opinions.*

[Blair Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Sara Cate’s books are amazing to me. My favorite dynamics so far are the mm and the poly groups. This is a MMF trio. We have Julian, Archer, and Freya. Freya is best friends with Julian’s sister and she is a up and coming chef. She wants to start her own restaurant. Julian we know. Archer is actually a kid from a couple from Free Fall. I have yet to read that but now I need to. I have been saving them. Now I will not lie to you. There are times, usually in the very beginning I did not care for Julian. He had some issues but I think that was for the best because it made his character growth the best of them all. He is co partner in the club just like we saw in the first book in this next gen series but he still is having some issues. Archer and Julian live in the same building. Overall I think this trio made a great “pairing”. They balanced each other well and they all pretty much had some issues that had to work out in some way whether it was in the group setting or personally. I enjoyed their journey and am so excited to see them, I hope, in the next book as side characters. That is one thing I do love about Sara Cates series. They never go to far and I can always see my favs again!

When it comes to the audio version of The Rule of Three you can expect what you always do from a Sara Cate audio…amazingness. It is a full cast Duet with Brandon Francis, Teddy Hamilton, Simone Lewis, Desiree Ketchum and Jason Clarke. You are not ready!! They all matched each other so well. Everything about it was fantastic to the pacing, and emotion put into the their acting for the book becuase that is really what this was… it was a performance! They made Julian, Archer, and Freya come to life!

[Jennifer Menze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book thanks to Sara Cate and NetGalley, and I’m so glad I did!


Where do I even start? Two hot billionaire men and one inspiring chef getting stuck in an elevator together—yes, it’s as intense as it sounds (seriously… someone turn on a fan).


Sara writes some of the best poly romances, and this one absolutely delivered. Following Julian, Archer, and Freya was such an exciting ride. Julian is the classic grump with sky-high expectations for himself, Archer is still trying to figure out where he belongs, and Freya is a dreamer who never stops reaching for more. Their dynamic felt layered, emotional, and incredibly engaging.

The love story between the three of them was beautiful to watch unfold. Seeing them grow individually and together made everything feel earned and satisfying. And if you’re here for high spice, bold kinks, and a whole lot of passion mixed with genuine connection—this book definitely delivers.

If you’re a fan of poly romance with heart and heat, you’ll want to pick this one up.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Sara has produced another 5 star read. I think MMF might be Sara’s bread and butter because Julian, Archer, and Freya were absolutely imperfectly perfect. Their relationship was raw, real, and full of trauma and tough emotions to navigate. They all gave each other exactly what each one was looking for/needed. This whole book had me giggling, blushing, kicking my feet, and also feeling the full range of human emotion.

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I’m on Sara’s arc team!

[Rach✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I STILL HAVE TEARS IN MY EYES😭😭

ARC Read/Finished:
04.19.26

Release Date:
05.05.26

I LOVE FREYA, JULIAN AND ARCHER SO MUCH😭🥹💓 we were really going through it in this book!! Also makes me want to re-read Gravity & Free Fall cause I missed my Wilde Boys. And I might as well reread SPC series while I’m at cause I missed my fam 😭

Quick disclaimer: I’m a part of Sara’s ARC team and I’m so happy I’ve been on the team since GMM 🥹💓 it has been a ride since that book was out!

[Sydney B · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.“

4.5/⭐️
4/🌶️

Audiobook Review 🎧
Full Cast Narration by Teddy Hamilton, Simone Lewis, Brandon Francis, Desiree Ketchum & Jason Clarke

Sara Cate’s books could almost cure me of anything. But Sara Cate’s MMF books will actually be the reason I cease to exist one day. Because the way I actually felt my heart stop a few times during their story?! My god some of these scenes will forever live in my mind. Especially that train scene? and that pantry scene?? 🫠 yeah I actually couldn’t breathe 🤭🤭

Julian Kade might be one of my new favorite MMCs. This man. They could never make me hate you. His internal dialogue, I felt like I was being rip to shreds. This sweet baby deserves all the happiness. And the scene with Daddy Ronan.. 🥹🤍 I just love this family.. and Amelia’s story is going to be a good time, I just know it already 👀

Also can we talk about this audio??? I love a full cast narration 👏🏼👏🏼 These audios will always be a favorite of mine, but this one? It was done so well!!! These narrators were perfect for these characters. I truly had the best time listening to this one!! I couldn’t recommend an audio more 👏🏼

💚 what to expect -
MMF romance
billionaire romance
anxiety rep
best friend’s brother
v!rgin fmc
séx club
k!nk exploration
second generation

[Maddie :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Sara Cate has done it again, while this maybe wasn’t my FAVORITE of her books I still enjoyed it a lot, I just wouldn’t consider myself emotionally attached enough to this book to give it a full 4 ⭐️

[Lauren Hipskind · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC reader review!
Messy, emotional, & completely ADDICTIVE. This book delivers intense chemistry and a complicated relationship dynamic that keeps you hooked! The angst and emotional tension really stood out, which made it hard to put down. It had the right amount of plot and spice. This book is perfect for fans of messy relationships, high angst, and unconventional relationships.