kelisabeth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Child death, and Grief
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I want to read this because it was all over the book community. I knew this book would have me questioning my morals the whole way through. But holy mother of balls, I feel like I'm going to hell for enjoying this book.
This book follows Father Bell. He is a priest and there are many rules a priest cannot break. A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God. Father Bell has had no problems playing by these rules for the last three years after a family tragedy set him on this path to priesthood. But this all changes when the sultry voice of Poppy Danforth sinks its claws in them through the screen of the confessional booth, and he can’t get her sins out of his head. It should be easy for Father Bell to put his impure thoughts of her to rest, considering the vows he has taken. It should be nothing to overcome what the sight and sound of her does to him, when his life with the Church meant everything. But the more he sees Poppy inside and outside of the church, the more she makes him feel like Tyler Bell instead of Father Bell. It gets worse once he has his first forbidden taste of her lips, Tyler can’t help but break all his rules for Poppy – no matter what it might cost them both.
I liked that it wasn’t all smut and no story, there was an actual story with actual characters with two very different family dynamics and very real traumas. I think Tyler’s head was a very intriguing and damaging place, knowing why he joined the church and trying not to go down the same road whilst falling in love was difficult and confusing for him. Also, I love the fact that he fell in love with a stripper which obviously added to the sin aspect of the book. Poppy, I thought was also a damaged character who didn’t understand why she was like this and instead of going to therapy she went to church. The smut was fire and honest to god, the alter chapter is going to be stuck in my brain for longer than normal.
I disliked the single POV, even though I was surprised to see that this was from a male’s point of view being the priest, I would have loved for this to be a dual POV especially with the last couple of chapters when they were apart. I liked the forbidden aspect of the story, but felt like it was easily pushed aside once Tyler got over his inner monologue and started sleeping with Poppy. I would have liked more of the forbiddenness.
I feel like I need to go to church after reading this book but I'm looking forward to Sean’s book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cursing, Suicide, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship
mrssmithslibrary's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’ve had beef with organized religion, and especially the Catholic Church, for a long time. The fact that this book is about a Catholic priest abandoning his vows for a pretty potential parishioner had initially steered me clear of reading it but the TikTok reviews about the spice had piqued my curiosity. This book is so steamy — mostly because there is so much of it that is taboo or not allowed. The God stuff I could take or leave —- but the spicy parts? Gimme a bunch more of that. 🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Alcohol, Child death, Classism, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
soluunaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I read this for January’s Cliterature book club. This was for me an introduction into the world of spicy books. At first I was unsure if it was for me but I loved it.
The dynamic between the main characters was interesting and engaging. The spicy scenes never felt like too much (although if you are religious I would consider maybe not picking this book up).
The romance between the two man characters had me rooting for their love. However the last part of the book was not what I was expecting and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Regardless I cannot wait to continue on in the series.
The dynamic between the main characters was interesting and engaging. The spicy scenes never felt like too much (although if you are religious I would consider maybe not picking this book up).
The romance between the two man characters had me rooting for their love. However the last part of the book was not what I was expecting and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Regardless I cannot wait to continue on in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, Rape, Pedophilia, Suicide, Self harm, and Sexual assault
If you are someone who is devoted to god and doesn’t enjoy reading about sacrilege this book might not be for you.anararibeiro's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Toxic relationship
Spoiler
I have very conflicting thoughts about the fact that the characters get involved and have so much sex while he's still a priest and inside churches. I guess it's expected considering it's a romance with the main character being a priest. But I also see how that can be very distasteful or actually very triggering for some people. My most conflicting thoughts though come from the fact that his sister was abused by a priest and he as priest breaks the same vows, definitely not in the same way, but still... I felt weird about it. Just like him. I still don't know how I feel about it.fantaiil's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Why did I even finish that book?
It was just bad. I know it's my fault for choosing this, but I wouldn't have thought that the crash between spice and church would be THAT bad. Spicy Scenes and praying at the same time? Why? Also without bible knowledge a lot of passages don't make a lot of sense.
I kinda liked Poppy so I don't want to give the worst score... but Tyler? It felt like the author thought: "Mhmm... I need a Hobby to not just make him a cut out flat figurine... Ah let him just mention The Walking Dead a lot and that's it."
Also. The thing with his sister. It was just sad and didn't add something to the story. It's a story about a priest "falling in love".... why add so much trauma?
And the end felt just absolutely unnecessary. I can live with obvious endings. Of course. But unnecessarily spaced out... just to make the book a bit longer? No, thank you.
The only thing about the ending was a bit of her POV and that it was finally the ending.
It was just bad. I know it's my fault for choosing this, but I wouldn't have thought that the crash between spice and church would be THAT bad. Spicy Scenes and praying at the same time? Why? Also without bible knowledge a lot of passages don't make a lot of sense.
I kinda liked Poppy so I don't want to give the worst score... but Tyler? It felt like the author thought: "Mhmm... I need a Hobby to not just make him a cut out flat figurine... Ah let him just mention The Walking Dead a lot and that's it."
Also. The thing with his sister.
Spoiler
I wanted to read a spicy book with some romance... why did the sister had to be abused and had to commit suicide?And the end felt just absolutely unnecessary.
Spoiler
The months apart. Him going travelling. The search.The only thing about the ending was a bit of her POV and that it was finally the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, and Child death
creativelifeofliz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think this book was just not for me. I really wanted to enjoy it, but having the vast majority of the book told from Tyler's perspective kind of threw me off I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Grief
mhairi_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
”I was supposed to be a shepherd of the flock, not the wolf.”
Forgive me Father for I have sinned.
I will definitely be picking up more of Sierra Simone’s work after this. This was my first Sierra Simone read, but not the first book of hers I’ve seen highly recommended. Her writing was fantastic. She connected you to the characters and the story effortlessly. The pacing was great. Overall this was just a super quick, easy read. Full of smut and substance.
In Priest we follow Father Tyler Anselm Bell. A 29 year old Priest running a parish in Weston. The Priest before him was arrested and he has since taken over and grew his parish into what it is today. He is keenly aware of how hard he has worked to gain the trust of his parishioners after his predecessors discretions.
However Tyler Bell was not always destined to be a man of the cloth. He spent his younger years recklessly until a family tragedy steers him toward Priesthood, which he has since then become truly devoted to. He spends near every moment of his life dedicated to those in need of spiritual guidance. That is until he meets Poppy.
Poppy walks into the confessional booth one day and Father Bell’s world is flipped on its head. When she starts confessing her sexual sins and shows that she is not only comfortable with her carnal wants but she is also smart and well educated Father Bell is more than intrigued. The attraction between these two is undeniable and it grows rapidly. They begin an intimate relationship soon after and Tyler starts to question everything.
What will he choose? His Faith or Poppy?
This is more than just a smutty read. It tells a tale of a man searching for his calling in life, trying to find his true purpose. He is a true man of faith but he is a man with needs too.
As someone who was raised Protestant and not overly religious, the only issue I had was having to look up certain things that were mentioned because I had no idea what is was. Whilst that is of no fault of the authors it did keep taking me out of the story hence the 4 star rating but I am genuinely surprised at how much I loved this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Suicide, Grief, Sexual content, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Stalking, and Bullying
Minor: Misogyny, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
thelassinlinen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content