Well, then! Pretty sure I am going to hell for enjoying this book as much as I did. Also pretty sure that I will never look at an altar or at the poor, unsuspecting anointing oil the same way again, but hey...that is my cross the bear!!!
Father Bell is a young priest overseeing a parish in small town America. His reasons for becoming a priest are due to struggles and loss in his own life...loss that was a result of the dark side of the church. (I loved this aspect, by the way.) Father Bell has made it his life's mission to bring light to the darkness and use his experiences to help the church become a better place to be a part of. Poppy Danforth is new to the small town that his church resides in and she is at an impasse in life, when she turns to the church.
From the first second that these two are in a scene together (which was for her first confession), there is a magnetic pull and an intense sexual chemistry between them. Father Bell knows right away that he doesn't see her in the same way that he sees his other parishioners and he knows that it's a problem. What unfolds here is this whole inner struggle, Don't eat from the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve-esque story. The book is told ENTIRELY in Father Bell's POV which was a risk, but one that I enjoyed. It's not often that we get a book with only the male POV but I don't really think this story would have worked if it were any other way. This is really about Father Bell (Tyler's) struggle with his identity, his vow, his temptations, and his future.
I'm gonna give it to you girls straight...this is a fun, forbidden, erotic version of this type of taboo story. And while I did think that this story had depth and struggle, it's a highly sexual book. But with every sexual act, I could feel the characters' struggle increase more and more until it reached a breaking point.
And there were many passages that did make me think, in general, being a Catholic myself.
So there was one thing that I struggled with and THE ONLY reason this this book did not get five stars from me, but it was significant enough that it took me completely out of the story every time that it happened. Before I go into it, let me preface it by saying that I was born and raised Catholic, and went to Catholic school all through elementary school. So, whatever preconceived notions you have of church, religion, and clergy members will impact the way you feel, at least to some extent, when you read a book like this.
My big issue was with Father Bell and his incessant cursing, internally and externally. I mean, the man dropped an F-bomb like nobody's business. It didn't matter if he was mad or sad, horny or happy...he curses like a sailor. I personally found this EXTREMELY difficult to believe.
And I know what you are going to say, we are talking about a man that ends up breaking his vow, desecrating his church, engaging in lewd, sexual acts all throughout the book...right? No, wrong. Not to me anyway. Why? Because his temptation and his passion for Poppy LED HIM to that behavior. That's the whole story. Whereas, his continued use of profanity is there on page 1. It's just the way the character is. I don't know... we used to get our mouths washed out with soap if we even dared each other to say bad words in school, so from my neck of the woods? This was a total inaccuracy. I'm not sure what the author was trying to accomplish with the use of it, but for me it was a fail.
There are just certain people that shouldn't curse, right?
Otherwise? I truly did love everything about this book for what it is. This is an erotic version of this type of story, so know that going in. Was it perfect? No. Regardless, was it still a sinfully fun and well-written read? Oh, holy hallelujah YES!! ;)
ALSO, I loved that it was in no way a preachy book because I can't stand that either. Don't use a book to mission me. Don't pull holier than thou crap on me, or the God-can-fix-everything bit. Not here, man!! Lol! This is a romance book. This is my happy place. Right? (Don't get me wrong, I am pretty religious, but for me, spirituality is a private thing.) Well, no worries there!! This is a story about Father Bell and his struggle with keeping his vow vs. finding love. It is NOT a book with an undertone of pushing God or Catholicism onto the reader.
All in all, this is one hot little number. I'm serious, some of the hottest sex scenes I have read in quite a while!! Do NOT go reading this book in public...LOL!
Sierra Simone is a relatively new author and I commend ANY author that takes risks, so for a new author to take a risk like this one? Hey, hats off to you girl! ;)
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