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bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)
Content warning behind spoiler
For an erotic romance ostensibly about man having all the sex with a young woman on the verge of becoming a nun, this is so very much more.
Sean Bell, who was briefly mentioned in Priest and brother to the now ex-Father Bell, has lost his faith after his sister's suicide, a sister who was hurt by a priest. Sean focuses on the here and now, making money no matter who he hurts, having sex but never falling in love.
When he meets a beautiful young woman at a party, everything changes. Especially since the young woman is Zenny, his best friend's sister. A woman about to take her vows. A woman who begs him to show her what she'll miss after she does.
Helpless to resist and helplessly falling in love even though Sean knows he'll only have Zenny for one month, this sinner has finally found his savior.
Holy crap did this book make me feel. So many feelings. All the feelings. Sensual, erotic, religious, and just fucking beautiful. Wow. While Priest kind of made me a little more uncomfortable (see my review for that one), I found Sinner's exploration of sex, faith, and love to just be exquisite. While we are soley in Sean's POV, I still felt like I knew Zenny and understood her motivations. I appreciated her world view and loved her views on sex and faith, and not considering sex to be sinful. Her superior mother was also A+.
One of my best reads so far in 2019!
See below for my thoughts on a spoiler-y part:
Spoiler
suicide of a secondary character discussed, death of a secondary character by cancer happens on page, rape of minor children discussedFor an erotic romance ostensibly about man having all the sex with a young woman on the verge of becoming a nun, this is so very much more.
Sean Bell, who was briefly mentioned in Priest and brother to the now ex-Father Bell, has lost his faith after his sister's suicide, a sister who was hurt by a priest. Sean focuses on the here and now, making money no matter who he hurts, having sex but never falling in love.
When he meets a beautiful young woman at a party, everything changes. Especially since the young woman is Zenny, his best friend's sister. A woman about to take her vows. A woman who begs him to show her what she'll miss after she does.
Helpless to resist and helplessly falling in love even though Sean knows he'll only have Zenny for one month, this sinner has finally found his savior.
Holy crap did this book make me feel. So many feelings. All the feelings. Sensual, erotic, religious, and just fucking beautiful. Wow. While Priest kind of made me a little more uncomfortable (see my review for that one), I found Sinner's exploration of sex, faith, and love to just be exquisite. While we are soley in Sean's POV, I still felt like I knew Zenny and understood her motivations. I appreciated her world view and loved her views on sex and faith, and not considering sex to be sinful. Her superior mother was also A+.
One of my best reads so far in 2019!
See below for my thoughts on a spoiler-y part:
Spoiler
I thought how Sierra Simone handled the death of Sean's mother was wonderfully done and was so emotional for me. My father died of glioblastoma last year and I, like Sean, was able to be with him when he died so this scene in the book wrecked me but also made me feel at peace. That is the true beauty of this genre as I knew in the end Sean would get his HEA so i could process my emotions about the other heavy content without also worrying about the rest.
wow my heart <3
Two childhood best friends who had one week of spring break bliss, until a misinterpretation of a text leads to heartbreak and no communication for ten years...until Olivia is assigned to be the wedding planner for Margot's best friend's wedding.
THE PINING. THE DIRTY TALK. Roommates too!?!? Stop it. I loved it all.
You get a great dose of returning characters, especially Brendon and Elle, and a fiery romance between my two new favorites.
Fully reviewed for Library Journal
Content notes: there's a cute cat named Cat (nothing bad or happens to the cat), Olivia's father had a heart attack in the past, she worries about his health. Olivia's mother died a few years ago. Margot has a little accident on a ski slope (she's fine).
Two childhood best friends who had one week of spring break bliss, until a misinterpretation of a text leads to heartbreak and no communication for ten years...until Olivia is assigned to be the wedding planner for Margot's best friend's wedding.
THE PINING. THE DIRTY TALK. Roommates too!?!? Stop it. I loved it all.
You get a great dose of returning characters, especially Brendon and Elle, and a fiery romance between my two new favorites.
Fully reviewed for Library Journal
Content notes: there's a cute cat named Cat (nothing bad or happens to the cat), Olivia's father had a heart attack in the past, she worries about his health. Olivia's mother died a few years ago. Margot has a little accident on a ski slope (she's fine).
Actual rating - 2.5
Young woman recently out of prison seeks a second chance in NYC and bumps into the most annoyingly cheerful and bow-tied man outside a ritzy department store window display. He offers her a chance to apply for the window dressing job; she takes it, even though his bowtie and demeanor are so not her goth style.
I don't know, this didn't hit for me. Tessa did a good job showcasing the inner pain for the "Ted Lasso" inspired Aiden, but the romance was absolutely insta-love and went from 0 to desk sex in the office so fast. When I'm promised a grumpy-sunshine romance, I want a bit more tension between the leads, but Stella was grumpy at Aiden for about one chapter and then was doing everything to not fuck her boss.
The banter was good, I liked some of the secondary characters (I was more into the age-gap little side romance we get a glimpse of), and I read the whole thing. The sex is hot.
This read very similarly to The Sweetest Fix.
CW: Stella served time as part of an armed robbery where someone is shot (but not killed, her friend is the one who fired the weapon, toxic family
Young woman recently out of prison seeks a second chance in NYC and bumps into the most annoyingly cheerful and bow-tied man outside a ritzy department store window display. He offers her a chance to apply for the window dressing job; she takes it, even though his bowtie and demeanor are so not her goth style.
I don't know, this didn't hit for me. Tessa did a good job showcasing the inner pain for the "Ted Lasso" inspired Aiden, but the romance was absolutely insta-love and went from 0 to desk sex in the office so fast. When I'm promised a grumpy-sunshine romance, I want a bit more tension between the leads, but Stella was grumpy at Aiden for about one chapter and then was doing everything to not fuck her boss.
The banter was good, I liked some of the secondary characters (I was more into the age-gap little side romance we get a glimpse of), and I read the whole thing. The sex is hot.
This read very similarly to The Sweetest Fix.
CW: Stella served time as part of an armed robbery where someone is shot (but not killed, her friend is the one who fired the weapon, toxic family
Vivienne Jones spent a wonderful golden summer falling in lust and love with fellow witch Rhys Penhallow, until he said oh yeah by the way I'm betrothed to someone else my mighty witch father thinks is more suitable for me.
In her anger and rejection, Viv may or may not have joking cursed Rhys's hair, sexual prowess, and name with her cousin, but that was with a Bath and Body Works candle. A joke!
Years later, Rhys is back in Viv's small New England town to balance the ley lines, and they discover the curse absolutely didn't stop his hair from doing the perfect *thing* but it definitely did something. As both Viv and Rhys and the other town witches' magic seems to be more powerful and off kilter, these former lovers are forced to team up to investigate how an un-curse-able Welsh witch somehow actually got cursed, before it is too late.
A light, slightly spooky paranormal romance with excellent banter, really great longing and feeeeelings, and delightful sexy-times. I loved these two bozos a whole lot, and hope we get more stories set in this world.
Audiobook Review - 2 stars
The narrator really didn't even try to give Rhys an accent. Sadness. He's Welsh and I would have settled for at minimum a slight UK accent, but overall the narration was flat and I stopped listening and switched to reading and that was a great decision.
Thank you to HarperAudio and LibroFM for the ALC.
In her anger and rejection, Viv may or may not have joking cursed Rhys's hair, sexual prowess, and name with her cousin, but that was with a Bath and Body Works candle. A joke!
Years later, Rhys is back in Viv's small New England town to balance the ley lines, and they discover the curse absolutely didn't stop his hair from doing the perfect *thing* but it definitely did something. As both Viv and Rhys and the other town witches' magic seems to be more powerful and off kilter, these former lovers are forced to team up to investigate how an un-curse-able Welsh witch somehow actually got cursed, before it is too late.
A light, slightly spooky paranormal romance with excellent banter, really great longing and feeeeelings, and delightful sexy-times. I loved these two bozos a whole lot, and hope we get more stories set in this world.
Audiobook Review - 2 stars
The narrator really didn't even try to give Rhys an accent. Sadness. He's Welsh and I would have settled for at minimum a slight UK accent, but overall the narration was flat and I stopped listening and switched to reading and that was a great decision.
Thank you to HarperAudio and LibroFM for the ALC.
Sierra Simone really knows how to rip your heart out of your chest and really make you feel like she's going to toss it into a fiery pit of despair, BUT THEN, she somehow puts it back into your chest and stitches it up until you feel like the slight scar and pain was worth it for how much better your heart feels afterwards.
Gah, this book. These two. And for all the darkness, gosh there were some really funny moments. Aiden, the lumberjack monk that he is, has the deep sense of humor running through his pain. Truly the one who lights up the room, making this discovery of his struggle with depression all the more palpably real.
The way Sierra Simone also weaves faith into these stories, it just really hits my lapsed Catholic soul in ways that other writers can't. I only wish Catholic faith were the version Sierra creates in her worlds. A place were a queer man can find family, love, and acceptance, not in spite of his sexuality. Where one can find connection to a G-d and a faith that doesn't also make you feel ashamed.
I am going to re-read this one. Exquisite sentences, I highlighted so much. Sinner is still my top tier favorite but this is right there with it.
Als0 - the scene in the lavender field will live rent-free with me forever.
CWs - suicide (family member in the past, described suicideal ideation and mental health struggles); aesthetic suffering, described, discussion of homophobic worries/fears of being outed/fears of being caught, religious violence/persecution - discussed. Rape - in the past, secondary character. Deceased family members/complications of grieving. Cheating (main character is in a relationship when they reconnect for the first time physically with the main love interest).
Gah, this book. These two. And for all the darkness, gosh there were some really funny moments. Aiden, the lumberjack monk that he is, has the deep sense of humor running through his pain. Truly the one who lights up the room, making this discovery of his struggle with depression all the more palpably real.
The way Sierra Simone also weaves faith into these stories, it just really hits my lapsed Catholic soul in ways that other writers can't. I only wish Catholic faith were the version Sierra creates in her worlds. A place were a queer man can find family, love, and acceptance, not in spite of his sexuality. Where one can find connection to a G-d and a faith that doesn't also make you feel ashamed.
I am going to re-read this one. Exquisite sentences, I highlighted so much. Sinner is still my top tier favorite but this is right there with it.
Als0 - the scene in the lavender field will live rent-free with me forever.
CWs - suicide (family member in the past, described suicideal ideation and mental health struggles); aesthetic suffering, described, discussion of homophobic worries/fears of being outed/fears of being caught, religious violence/persecution - discussed. Rape - in the past, secondary character. Deceased family members/complications of grieving. Cheating (main character is in a relationship when they reconnect for the first time physically with the main love interest).
Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland has tasked his steadfast secretary Penelope Pettypeace with finding him his future Duchess, but increasingly becomes distracted by Pettypeace as he realizes what finding a wife will do to *their* relationship.
Pettypeace herself has secretly loved the Duke for most of her employment with him, but has kept it carefully hidden away like the leather notebook in her secret pocket. She'll find him his duchess AND will start considering finding some companionship of her own, even if it is just anonymous liaisons at the new club for second sons and commoner women.
But when a secret blackmail letter reveals both Pettypeace and King have secrets, their search for a Duchess is put on pause and gives them an opportunity to try a short term arrangement, for just giving into their sexual tension.
This was fun and swoony, the secrets bit was a little overwrought but I enjoyed the character development!
CW: exploitation of a minor, drinking, fighting
Pettypeace herself has secretly loved the Duke for most of her employment with him, but has kept it carefully hidden away like the leather notebook in her secret pocket. She'll find him his duchess AND will start considering finding some companionship of her own, even if it is just anonymous liaisons at the new club for second sons and commoner women.
But when a secret blackmail letter reveals both Pettypeace and King have secrets, their search for a Duchess is put on pause and gives them an opportunity to try a short term arrangement, for just giving into their sexual tension.
This was fun and swoony, the secrets bit was a little overwrought but I enjoyed the character development!
CW: exploitation of a minor
Spoiler
Pettypeace, to pay the bills and take care of her family, agrees to pose for nude photos when she's very young, a child. She is threatened by the villain in the story to expose her secrets to the Duke and society.
A down on his luck handyman takes a job at a suspicious looking bakery, where it seems a magical being only bakes enchanted treats for those in search of *something* and for a deep price. The being is named Jin, and takes a different human form each day, and Adam finds himself falling in love with Jinn as he fixes up the shop. When they kiss for the first time, Jin disappears but keeps Adam working on the shop. Eventually Jin returns, unable to resist the deep and abiding love Jin has also formed for the human. Jin tells Adam he's the only person who has never asked him for anything, even after Adam found out Jin can grant wishes.
A really great short story. I wish there had been a bit more tension building between Adam and Jin besides Adam observing Jin's work with his "clients" but I really loved that Jin showed Adam his true form and how they could find pleasure together, even though Jin's true form was 2x Adam's size, green, and without genitals. Doubly so because Jin said they could transform into anything Adam desired, but all Adam desired was Jin.
Read for #BangInTheNightBingo
A really great short story. I wish there had been a bit more tension building between Adam and Jin besides Adam observing Jin's work with his "clients" but I really loved that Jin showed Adam his true form and how they could find pleasure together, even though Jin's true form was 2x Adam's size, green, and without genitals. Doubly so because Jin said they could transform into anything Adam desired, but all Adam desired was Jin.
Read for #BangInTheNightBingo
Too real-life scary for me, as the eerie obsession wasn't really eerie just straight up stalking, kidnapping (of an adult), and sexual assault.
The writing has potential, the subject matter just wasn't for me. I felt the circumstances of the story were yanking the heroine around, and I was just too worried for her to enjoy the romance arc.
The writing has potential, the subject matter just wasn't for me. I felt the circumstances of the story were yanking the heroine around, and I was just too worried for her to enjoy the romance arc.
Two master bakers reunite on the set of a GBBO style show where they are now both judges. Rivals still in their personal professional lives, both competing for THE client, a royal princess wedding day cake, they also stumble into feelings too.
There is so much plot in this story. So many things happen, and overall they took away from the romance for me. The author deftly incorporated the heavy themes of loss and grief for the many characters who are going through these things, but the addition of a mentally ill stalker plotline, a saboteur in the bakery, and a potentially cheating contest were all too many threads on top of already heavy themes.
The narrator was chirpy and successfully portrayed the characters, though with so many sometimes it was hard to tell who was speaking.
Parker's writing sparkles, this just didn't quite hit thematically or plot-wise for me personally.
Thank you to LibroFM and HarperAudio for the ALC
There is so much plot in this story. So many things happen, and overall they took away from the romance for me. The author deftly incorporated the heavy themes of loss and grief for the many characters who are going through these things, but the addition of a mentally ill stalker plotline, a saboteur in the bakery, and a potentially cheating contest were all too many threads on top of already heavy themes.
The narrator was chirpy and successfully portrayed the characters, though with so many sometimes it was hard to tell who was speaking.
Parker's writing sparkles, this just didn't quite hit thematically or plot-wise for me personally.
Thank you to LibroFM and HarperAudio for the ALC
What a delight!
Forensic accountant Hannah finds herself oddly drawn to an old cathedral in NYC, but whoops turns out it is because a cursed man now gargoyle is also very much attracted to her.
Hannah easily accepts both her heart and pants feelings for the sexy long-tongued gargoyle, and between finding uses for both the tongue and his wings, they also discover the supernatural agency Thomas worked for in the past is still active and recruiting.
An author to watch! Delicious sexy times, Hannah was fat and beautiful, and the fact Thomas couldn't be turned back to a "human" was perfection for me.
Looking forward to reading more in this world!
The author is my personal friend, but I reviewed from a copy I purchased with my own dollars.
Forensic accountant Hannah finds herself oddly drawn to an old cathedral in NYC, but whoops turns out it is because a cursed man now gargoyle is also very much attracted to her.
Hannah easily accepts both her heart and pants feelings for the sexy long-tongued gargoyle, and between finding uses for both the tongue and his wings, they also discover the supernatural agency Thomas worked for in the past is still active and recruiting.
An author to watch! Delicious sexy times, Hannah was fat and beautiful, and the fact Thomas couldn't be turned back to a "human" was perfection for me.
Looking forward to reading more in this world!
The author is my personal friend, but I reviewed from a copy I purchased with my own dollars.