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Eleanor Lynn Reads

Eleanor Lynn Reads

Priest by Sierra Simone: Book Review

April 7, 2022

Priest by Sierra Simone is displayed on a kindle fire in the middle of the photo. Underneath the kindle to the upper right corner is a grey blanket and to the lower left is a colorful rug. On the bottom of the photo the denim legs are crossed with one leg going up the right side of the photo. To the left of the kindle is a mug filled with tea with a white hand holding the handle.

Priest

BY Sierra Simone

Rating: 4.25/5 
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Steam: Explicit--Taboo/Erotica
Publisher: Sierra Simone
Pub Date: June 29, 2015
Available: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Content Warnings: suicide of family member, sexual assault (not described), emotional abuse, trauma, breaking of religious vows


Priest Synopsis:

There are many rules a priest can’t break.

A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God.

I’ve always been good at following rules.

Until she came. Then I learned new rules.

My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I’m twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again.

I am a priest and this is my confession.


Priest Review

Ok. I read this book. I didn’t hate it. But I will never tell a soul in my family that I’ve read this book (looking at you Catholic guilt).

This book is a lot. First you’ve got the whole priest having pretty intense sex everywhere in the church. But this book is a bit more layered than just that. We’ve got Bell’s sister’s suicide due to the church & then add some emotional abuse as well.

Loves:

Now that’s established I thought it was a very well written book that takes on a lot. I was raised Catholic although I don’t consider myself practicing. But because of having to go through confirmation & taking some theology classes in college I loved this aspect of the book.

Tyler’s internal dialogue was amazing. I appreciated how Simone tied in a lot of biblical and canonical references throughout the book. It added humor and made things a bit more palpable? Like the altar scene (spoiler alert they do it on the altar). But like it was good? The writing around sex and church and God was brilliant.

While Tyler and Poppy aren’t the best at communication, I thought it was well done enough. Tyler consistently asks Poppy for her consent and checks up on her while they’re doing some pretty intense things. I wish we would have gotten some more non-physical intimate moments, but the lack didn’t take away from the book. But the after moments were always the tenderest.

The supporting characters added an extra layer of humanity to Poppy and Tyler which was super needed. I loved Millie and Father Jordan to be especially endearing. God I loved Millie. I do wish we saw more of their town, but it didn’t detract from the book.

Meh:

My anxiety was on high alert the entire time waiting for the fallout. Which was both not as bad as I expected, but still bad enough to rationalize my anxiety. Like how could it not be bad? I mean it could have been worse, but your anxiety is totally rational.

Tyler was bit of a sad horny boy, but he grew over the course of the book. So, I ended up liking him. On the other hand, Poppy was criminally underdeveloped. I wanted some more from her. I think I felt this way because it’s only told from Tyler’s POV. Like I knew she was had an MBA and was driven, but I wanted more. I needed her to have more authority. I mean explicitly describing your, uh, encounters to a priest is pretty authoritative, but I just felt like she wasn’t there.

I had some problems with the more church oriented things but that’s on like a personal issue. (Missionary work is something I don’t agree with and it took away some liking points for Tyler).

Long Story Short

Do I recommend this book? Yes. If you can get over a priest doing many *creative* things with a woman ALL OVER the church, then read it. I promise it’s not as bad as it sounds, or at least I didn’t think it was. Honestly the way that Simone writes everything it is beautiful. I still can’t get over how enjoyable it was. I was super hesitant, but it was worth it. I’ve also read Sinner and am working through Saint now if that says anything. They’re TBR busting. I will be going down the Simone backlist soon.

If You Liked This One…

I would recommend checking out Roni Loren’s novels. Her The Ones That Got Away novel is probably the closest to this book. However both Yes & I Love You and What If You & Me are also heavy and steamy! Totally recommend them! Additionally I feel like these books are just Catholic, steamier versions of Rosie Danan’s series with The Roommate and The Intimacy Experiment they feel very similar but Danan’s are Jewish (at least TIE is). But similar themes of religion, expectations, and sexuality are all explored.


Sierra Simone is a voracious reader of all things including the smuttiest smut, young adult, piles of non-fiction for research, and everything Bill Bryson (especially on audio).

She loves writing the dirtiest things that she can think of, King Arthur, sparkling water, Tarot, coffee, leggings, and learning new words daily. 

Her previous jobs have included firing ceramics, teaching living history lessons in one-room school house in full, 1904-approved school marm attire, and working as a librarian for several years—not in that order

She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, two children, and two giant dogs. (And two cats, but they’re so naughty we don’t talk about them.) 

Her novels have been published in Czech, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, and Romanian. She’s been featured in Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Marie Claire, and Library Journal with a starred review.

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Hello my name is Eleanor and I'm so glad you're here! I am a self proclaimed bookworm interested in all things happily ever after. I hope that you find some good reads and I can destroy your TBR!

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Just preorder this book. Denise Williams does it Just preorder this book.

Denise Williams does it again writing another favorite book of mine💕💕.

5⭐️ | Contemporary Romance | Explicit

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

Out September 6, 2022

To be completely fair in this review I have absolutely adored everything Williams has written up to this point. And Do You Take This Man is no exception to my Williams love. 

This book was full of character development, steam, banter, and an entertaining plot. Come on it’s ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS!!!

This is the second romance book I’ve read with a divorce lawyer FMC in the last month, and I’m not upset about it. I adored this book. 

RJ is prickly and has her walls up high. I loved her transformation and growth in the book. The fact that she ordains weddings is the icing on the cake for me (hahaha). Her back story through her work relationships are beautiful and the way she is there for her friends is so great to read. I loved RJ but her life would be HECTIC to live.

Lear is one of those amazing MMCs that start off in one place but peeling back each of the layers creates an even better character. He starts as a bit of a prick, but as the story unfolds and you start to get more glimpses of him you understand why and end up fully in love with this sweet man.

While the book is fully centered around a character driven plot and their character arcs, there are enough secondary plots to continuously help propel the story forward while bringing out key elements of the characters. 

It’s incredibly done and you don’t realize how masterful it is until you’ve finished and sat with yourself a long time. Williams is an expert story crafter, and I don’t think myself or anyone else can properly sing her praises.

Do I recommend this book? Yes! 1000% yes I recommend picking up this book. The banter, wit, chemistry, and character development are all top notch in this book and I think it will appeal to almost every contemporary romance reader. 

Highly recommend for those who like Emily Henry, Olivia Dade, or Andie Christopher! An absolutely wonderful book (that I already preordered after reading this ARC because I NEED it in physical form).
Have I mentioned what a HOLD this book has over @u Have I mentioned what a HOLD this book has over @unsuccessfulbookclub and I? I couldn’t help myself with this one. It’s perfect.

Also if you’re uninterested in reading this book even with this info (which is only the beginning of the sheer awesomeness that is this book) idk what to tell you.

Mia and Vander are that couple💕.

#bookishreels #bookreels #EloisaJames #FourNightsWithTheDuke #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalRomanceNovel #HistoricalRomanceReader #RomanceNovel #RomanceBook #RomanceReader #romancestagram #romancestagrammer #RomanceBookstagram #romancebookworm #bookworm #bookreel
I truly believe reading this book has changed who I truly believe reading this book has changed who I am as a person. Mia, Vander, Chuffy, and Charlie will forever hold a piece of my heart. 

Seriously if you want the BOOK RIDE OF YOUR LIFE AND TO MELT INTO A PILE OF GOO READ THIS BOOK!

5 ⭐️ | Historical Romance | Explicit

CW: adultery, fatphobia, emotional abuse (mostly off page), opium use (off page), physical abuse (off page), ableism, and alcoholism 

First and foremost, thank you @unsuccessfulbookclub for this serendipitous buddy read. I am forever in your debt.

Where do I even begin with this book? It starts with a poorly written poem by a lovestruck teen, embarrassment, parental adultery, blackmail, and a proposal scene to top them all. TBH this proposal is perhaps the most entertaining I've ever read.

From here we dive into the heart of the story which does have a lot of plot, but the growth of the characters is where it shines. Peeling back carefully constructed layers and bringing all of the skeletons out of the closet.

Evander Septimus Brody is officially tied with Frank Tripp for favorite book boyfriend. I said what I said. Three points to him: Charlie, the DOOR, the F-ing ending of this book.

Mia is in over her head throughout the book, but is still in control the entire time. She's smart, sweet, and has some serious self-esteem issues.

Charlie and Chuffy are the side characters of your dreams. And Jafeer!

I could go on and on, but just know that Clare and I basically were screaming at each other in delight in our DMs because how perfect this book is. I scared people on the metro giggling. I went to the library to secure a physical copy because I needed it in my hands along with listening. 

I will be buying this book and highlighting it with little hearts like a lovesick teen. It's that good.

All in all, read this book and PLEASE get in my DMs while you do because this is peak serotonin for me.

#EloisaJames #FourNightsWithTheDuke #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalRomanceNovel #HistoricalRomanceReader #RomanceNovel #BookReview #RomanceBook #RomanceReader #romancestagram #romancestagrammer #RomanceBookstagram #romancebookworm #bookworm #bookish #massmarket #Romance #ReadThisBook
Welcome to my new series called: Romance Tropes & Welcome to my new series called: Romance Tropes & Country Throwbacks🤠

Long story short I was listening to old country and realized how well it paired with a trope. Then imagine me masterminding about 15 songs with tropes🫣-thank you @unsuccessfulbookclub for helping me with this rabbit hole. 

So buckle up, because we’ve got some book recs and throwbacks!

Trope: Second Chance Romance
Song: Austin by Blake Shelton

Second chance romance might be *that* trope for me. There’s something about finding love with the same person at the right time that I love. Plus it’s always so angsty and I adore it!!

Books Shown in Reel:
Every Summer After by Carly Fortune
To Have and To Hoax by Martha Waters
The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren
Saint by Sierra Simone
Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas
A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria
Coming Home to Seashell Harbor
An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire by Manda Collins
An Heiress to Remember by Maya Rodale
Unwritten Rules by KD Casey
The Hellion and The Hero by Emily Sullivan
Sliding Home by Jaqueline Snowe
First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel

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#HistoricalRomanceReader #EmilySullivan #MayaRodale #RomanceBooks #Bookstagram #BookRecommendations #RomanceReads #BookReel #BookStack #HistoricalRomance #bookworm #romancestagram #romancestagrammer #SecondChanceRomance #TropesAndThrowbacks #RoniLoren #MandaCollins #AlexisDaria #MirandaLiasson #ForeverPub #BerkleyRomance #SajniPatel #KDCasey #MarthaWaters #JaquelineSnowe #CarlyFortune
Ugh I really wanted to like this book. I mean I Ugh I really wanted to like this book. 

I mean I pretook this photo because the cover is gorgeous and the premise!!! (Hence this review bc I’m not letting this photo go to waste)

The premise of this book is amazing. A plus size black woman having to be the model for lingerie and also is the creative director of it and falling in love with her rival!?!?

But honestly I DNF’d about 80% through because I couldn’t do the last roughly 60ish pages.

Where did it go wrong? Well first of all when is a 36D plus size? Boo, you can get lingerie easily… (which btw why is this lingerie described as Torrid (🤢) to the extreme???)

But beyond that the timeline is constantly jumping so pacing feels way off. Reid (mmc/li/rival) does some questionable agreements with the lingerie brand that are hard to get over AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE. Like I would never forgive him if I were Cassie (fmc).

I can read through bland relationships in romance but SOMETHING has to make up for it. The friendships didn’t seem genuine at all and felt inconsistent.

I WILL say that I am going to give Jackson another try if another of her books is published because I did like her writing. I thought it flowed easily and I really liked her voice. Just the plot and the characters not so much.

And yes I’m counting this is my reading count for the year because that ~80% was EARNED💁🏻‍♀️.

Also this is my PSA to let you know DNFing is good for you. There are too many better books for you to read. (Unless you’re enjoying your hate read—which then go forth!)

Typically I try not to be too negative and I’m a pretty easily pleased by books but I couldn’t. 

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#TheAccidentalPinup #BerkleyPublishing #BerkleyRomance #Berkley #RomCom #RomanceNovel #RomanceBook #ContemporaryRomance #RomanceReader #romancestagram #RomanceBookstagram #BookReview #bookstagram #bookish #BooksAndCoffee #DNF #bookworm #bookgrammer #BookBlogger #EnemiesToLovers #plussize
💕ARC Book Review💕 5⭐️ | Historical Roma 💕ARC Book Review💕

5⭐️ | Historical Romance | Explicit

Ummm, hello my favorite book😍. I’ve seriously been here with all my emotions with this book since March (thank you @readforeverpub !!!) and it is time.

Do you like second chance romance? Persuasion vibes? Starchy ex naval officers turned body guard with a sexy cane? A society woman determined to run her factory ethically? Monte Cristo? BATHTUB AND CARRIAGE scenes —and a bed scene that is 🤌!!!

The way this book has my soul. Georgiana and Henry met 8 years ago during the season, then due to ~circumstances~ they didn’t end up together. Georgiana got married to an awful man and Henry went into Naval Intelligence. Now the gangs back together because Georgiana’s being threatened.

Seriously though, the character development, the steam, the plot, literally everything about this book I love. The flashbacks to the past are perfectly placed too. I cannot wait to hold a physical copy in my hands. I’ve reread it countless times now. 

So thank you Emily Sullivan for crafting this MASTERPIECE. 

This is the third book in the series, I highly recommend at least reading the second one before this one as there’s character overlap, but if not I still think you could get the plot and characters, just not all the details.

PS expect me only to become more insufferable about this series because y’all need to read it.

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#TheHellionAndTheHero #EmilySullivan #RomanceBooks #HistoricalRomance #ForeverPublishing #HistoricalRomanceNovel #historicalromancereaders #historicalromancebooks #ARogueToRemember #TheRebelAndTheRake #RomanceReader #RomanceNovel #ARC #NetGalley #romancestagram #romancestagrammer #romancebookstagram #romancebookstagram #romancenovels #romancereads #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookstagrammer #bookflatlay #bookpics #bookworms #bookworm #KindleFire
I love historical romances, but like I don’t alw I love historical romances, but like I don’t always want a 18-22 year old virgin heroine…

Here is a small compilation of historical romances with experienced leading ladies😘:

Esme: The Return of the Duke by Lorraine Heath
Beatrice: An Heiress to Remember by Maya Rodale
Reagan: Tempest by Beverly Jenkins
Florence: The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe
Helena: A Lady Tempts an Heir by Harper St George
Sylvia: The Rebel and The Rake by Emily Sullivan
Georgiana: The Hellion and The Hero by Emily Sullivan
Serena: Say You’ll Be My Lady by Kate Pembrooke
Margery: A Duke Worth Fighting For by Christina Britton
Spring: Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins
Violet: A Lady’s Formula For Love by Elizabeth Everette
Letitia: A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everette

Ones that I forgot that I’m throwing in after making the reel😵‍💫:
Sesily: Bombshell by Sarah MacLean
Deliah: Lady Derring Takes A Lover by Julie Anne Long

Let me know which ones I’m missing/need to read!!

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#HistoricalRomanceReader #JoannaShupe #EmilySullivan #HarperStGeorge #MayaRodale #ChristinaBritton #ElizabethEverette #BeverlyJenkins #RomanceBooks #Bookstagram #BookRecommendations #RomanceReads #BookReel #BookStack #HistoricalRomance #bookworm #romancestagram #romancestagrammer #LorraineHeath
⚾️Book Review⚾️ 4.5⭐️ | Contemporary ⚾️Book Review⚾️

4.5⭐️ | Contemporary Romance | Explicit

Shout out to this book keeping me company in ride lines💕. I read this entire book in Disney it was that good!!

It’s the second in the Out Of the Park series by Jaqueline Snowe, and I do recommend reading them in order. It’ll help.

I ADORED this novel. It’s a second chance romance that has all of the feels. Michelle and Brooks used to be a thing 2 years ago but she suddenly called it off. Now he’s back playing for the professional baseball team and wants her back. Yeah, it’s that kind of book👀🔥.

She’s the grumpy one and he’s little mr romantic. And their dynamic is so perfect. The chemistry is phenomenal from page one and ugh it pulls on your heart strings. Plus it leads to the steamier scenes which are 10/10!!!

There is a lot of heavier themes like Alzheimer’s, drug abuse (off page), child abuse (off page), neglect (off page), and emotional abuse (mostly off page, some questionable at the end).

All in all I highly recommend this book and also recommend bringing your kindle to amusement parks😂.

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#BaseballRomance #RomanceBook #RomanceNovel #Baseball #SportsRomance #SlidingHome #JaquelineSnowe #OutOfTheParkSeries #OutOfThePark #KindleBook #KindleRomance #RomanceReads #RomanceNovel #RomanceBook #RomanceReader #RomanceReadersOfInstagram #NewAdultRomance #SecondChanceRomance #SecondChance #bookstagram #bookreview #BookRecommendation #romancestagram #BookBlogger
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