From USA Today Bestselling Author Adriane Leigh comes a searing standalone love story with a jaw-dropping twist…“Hot, emotional, and full of twists and turns!” – Leylah Attar, New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling AuthorWhen the bottom finally falls out of Tressa Torrado’s life and she’s given an eviction notice for her one-bedroom walk-up, she lands at the first place … walk-up, she lands at the first place that’ll have her–and the last place she’d expect to find herself.
Father Bastien Castaneda is trained to heal the wounded of his flock, his warrior strength and mysterious moral fortitude as intoxicating as any superpower. Soon they’re working side by side together–chemistry simmering to a boiling point as two desperate hearts find the will to live again while forbidden love lights like lighter fluid in their hearts.
But it isn’t long before secrets so explosive come to light it torches the very foundations of their belief, and only time will tell if theirs is a love strong enough to survive the inevitable fall.
“Like a retelling of The Scarlet Letter with a happily ever after.” – bookSprout review
Note: Rebel Priest was first written as a novella in 2013 in the Forbidden Fruit V. 2 Anthology under the name Sins of the Flesh, and then as a full-length standalone titled Rebel Saint in 2018. Minor characters, situations, and scenes have been added to enhance the story.
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Loved this book! I fell in love with Bastien and Cruz. Bastien’s love and kindness show brilliantly in his acts of service and devotion to God, but then he falls in love…. and Oh boy does it get steamy and mysterious from there. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’ll be following and reading more of her work!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“Love is an act of faith, and we do it better together.”
Wow, this is a taboo read and I am so glad to have won a copy. All thoughts, and feels following are my own. Since Tiffany Reisz Sinner series, and long ago copy of the Thorn Birds I have not had the pleasure to read such a taboo romance. You. Will. Be. Lost.
What did I like? You give up a lot….A LOT to fall in love with something taboo. This author does an outstanding job of creating a beautiful but forbidden book. There are no huge religious overtones so please do not shy away from this book. It was an incredible experience and I believe it is five stars of entertainment.
“Compassion is my religion, Father.”
It is mine as well… you don’t need confession….even though it’s good for you, nor do you need religion. Compassion towards others is food for the soul.
Would I recommend or buy? Yes… this was an amazing book and I loved it. Don’t shy from the religious overtones because we are all sinners. This was a romance that held some taboo overtones.
Thoughts for the author? Loved it…. loved the characters…loved the ending. Congratulations on your new release! You got five stars from me…. well deserved. Thanks to Booksprout and the giveaway
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is my first book by Adriane Leigh, but it definitely will not be my last. I really liked this book. It took me a bit to really get into it, but once I did I was hooked. It is a slowburn, and definitely took Bastien and Tressa awhile to give in to their passions. The sex scenes in this book are hot.
I loved Bastien. He was very devoted to his faith, and just wanted to help the people of St. Michaels. He meets Tressa and is drawn to her from the very first meeting, and wants her despite his vow of celibacy.
I loved Tressa, she was so caring to the children and anyone that may of needed her help. She was a strong heroine.
Adriane’s writing style is superb in this book. I loved being able to get both Bastien and Tressa’s POV’s.
This book has it all:
Sexy priest
Secrets
Dirty talk
Forbidden love
Strong heroine
Excellent secondary characters
I recommend this book to anyone who wants a sexy forbidden love story
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout, and I am voluntarily leaving a review
I don’t know what I expected from this story, but I know I was NOT expecting it to have the depth that it had. Adriane Leigh weaves a story of faith, forbidden desire, childhood trauma, discovery, shame, and love into something very beautiful and tragic. I’ve read other books of hers and liked them a lot, but Rebel Priest is on a whole other level. Highly recommend this read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What happens when a man wants to worship and be faithful to two very different loves? What happens when you have to share the man you love with someone else? This is the dilemma of Father Bastien and Tressa…
Tressa finds herself seeking solace at Bastien’s church and Bastien finds himself draw to Tressa. Worlds that should never meet yet collide. Glances and touches that set them on fire. Lines are crossed and faiths shaken. When it erupts, will the aftershocks be worth the explosion?
This is a slow build erotically charged story. Bastien’s lulling prose would make even the hardest of hearts melt and enrapture you with his lyrical words. Tressa’s heart didn’t stand a chance against his undivided attention, gentleness coupled with his deeply passionate nature. The chemistry between these two was almost instant and constant. They resisted the pull of the flesh as long as they could before their hearts placed faith on the back burner, as they couldn’t fathom that faith would deny them this rightness.
I loved these two right away and the supporting casts had me in their corner. While I understand the slow burn after a while it started dragging the story down and as a consequence for me it made the subsequent discoveries seem rushed. We jump ahead a decade towards the end of the story which helped wrap things up in some areas and left room for more to come.
This story is one that will linger as you ponder what is faith? Isn’t love a type of faith?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I won this ARC copy from the author. My review is not swayed by that.
This is my first book by Adriane Leigh, and I enjoyed it.
Bastien and Tressa
Bastien is the local priest and upholds his job and faith above all else, that is until he has to take confession from a stranger. A woman who through the walls of the confessional emotes feelings in him he is shocked by.
“”I nodded, breaking her gaze as I felt riots of energy bubbling up in unfamiliar places. “”
The story deepens from here, with our couple becoming romantically involved, working together within the church community.
“”He seemed the epitome of faith, a true living saint—and I couldn’t help the tiny whisper of rebellion that wondered if there was ever a crack in all of his pious moral armor.””
Our couple fall for each other almost immediately, but the story isnt just about their romance, we also have the mystery of Tressa needing to find out who her father was/is, as her mother had always kept it secret. This in itself leads to more mystery, and when the couple are found out, and Bastien is removed from service and relocated, it is a year before Tressa tracks him down and they are reunited and the huge mystery of her parentage is revealed.
All in all not a bad story, one that I enjoyed
Thank you Adriane for the opportunity to read for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was pleased with the way this story unfolded, the way they experimented love and not in any singular fashion of chastised and clandestine feeling. Bastian always knew where his loyalty was and what his dove deserved. The only thing that made me give it a 4 star was because I would have loved a more in-depth relationship development from the beginning and express why father Bastian fell for Tressa. Love the reference to The Alchemist, which is what this is but with the twist of a love story.
There’s heat, love and all kinds of unholy things, but passion and heart.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book caught me by surprise. I love a good taboo story…. and this one did not disappoint. I loved reading this story and going through the turmoil the characters went through. Bastien was just…. WOW!!! I tell you, if any of my priests were like him….. my life would’ve been VERY different. Lol. With the exception of a few grammar and spelling errors…. this book was everything I needed it to be. Angsty. Passionate. Taboo. Just short of amazing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
For the love of all that’s holy. This book is absolutely divine. This story will totally blow your mind, body and soul. Sizzling scenes to bring you to the pits of hell and back. Totally a new favorite for the year.
Tressa and Bastian’s story will rock your world. It will most definitely keep you entertained with its story line and amazing characters.
Two people, brought together,dare I say by fate? Tressa comes to St. Michael’s church hoping to get some form of help. I’m sure she never fathomed the outcome of her most recent trip to the churches steps.
Bastian, the most recent priest of the church set his life to follow the path god takes him on. Helping who he can the best he can.
Devine intervention brings these two souls together,it seems, for one mind blowing, crazy,epic ride.
5/5.
My first for this author! Well done! Interesting and very sinful! May the good lord keep up with all the sins that is so good!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I can’t put into words how much I enjoyed this book! I love a good Forbidden romance and this one did not disappoint. Bastian and Tressa do everything they can to fight their attraction and love for each other. Their story is filled with struggles, pain, desire, passion and twists and turns that will keep captivated and turning the pages. I truly fell in love with these characters and their story. A sinfully page turning read, that I enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sinful, sinful, sinful……what a book! This is a story about an amazing man. One that cares deeply for his congregation and community. A truly loving and caring man. A man that is generous to a fault. It is also a story about a man, one filled with lustful thoughts of one particular woman who he meets by chance one cold winter night. A priest by day and a totally hot sinner by night. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting with this story, it was a little unnerving yet I absolutely could not put it down! Just a little taboo with a completely unexpected ending!!
Can I first just say that the cover for Rebel Priest was breathtaking and just WOW! This was my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last – this author has a beautiful way with her words and I could visualize and feel every word I read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3.5 Forbidden Stars
First book by Adriane Leigh and would recommend to all the forbidden lovers. I loved all the forbidden love between Bastian and Tressa and trying to hide their feelings. So glad to see that love won out and they wouldn’t hide it from the world and it ended with a HEA.
I’m not sure what I expected when I started this book, but by chapter 5 I knew it was going to be more than I could have imagined. To sum this book up in one word…surprising. But definitely in a good way! Forbidden, intriguing, passionate, HOT! This story has it all. I enjoyed the characters and their backstories and the way the author made me feel throughout the story. Certainly a roller coaster of emotions the entire time! Apart from a few small grammatical mistakes, this book is definitely worth adding to your To-Be-Read list!
What do you do when who you believe you should be is challenged by meeting one person? Bastien became a priest due to family obligation and how he was raised. He knows this is his calling and who he should be. Tressa’s road in life hasn’t been easy. When she finds herself dumped on the doorsteps of St. Michael’s, she never dreams that this might be her salvation. Bastien gives Tressa a place to life and a job as the daycare worker for the church. As Bastian and Tressa work closely together to care for the parish’s children, a friendship and attraction blooms. Now, this journey isn’t what I expected. There are so many layers and nuances to this story as with everything that happens in life. As much as we want things to be black or white to simplify how we deal with the world, there are so many shades of gray. This story challenged me as it unfolded while showing me the true meaning of hope, love and trust. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
HOT!! That is one word to describe this book. This book is all kinds of hot and wrong that I absolutely loved! Reading about the struggle between the characters on what they feel is right and trying to deny how they feel about each other. I absolutely loved this book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Five Gold Sparkly Stars…
by and1515
This is the very first book by Adriane Leigh and i’m so glad I picked this book this morning I know to some the very title or even the concept behind a story like this one might be a turn off but not me.
I totally love this book its well written with believable characters and the right amount of kink.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.