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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At the beginning I wasn’t so sure about this story, because a Priest is obviously not the ideal man you picture in a romance novel… for obvious reasons. And I was gratefully surprised for how wrong I was! This story kept me going, and the suspense while waiting for them to finally develop the relationship they had been building was very exciting! It was a bit slow at the beginning, but I grew into the main character, Tressa, and even when I didn’t like her much at first, I think the way she keeps growing as a person makes her more relatable. And the sweetness and care of Bastien made of them a perfect match, one I was looking forward to read more of. This story mixes love and desperation in a beautiful way, and it turned out as a enjoyable bittersweet experience. An exciting, captivating novel, I would completely recommend to anyone who enjoys sweet romance -and the perfect amount of darkness.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was my first priest book and I loved it, I couldn’t stop reading it. I have a feeling it’s one I will read a million times.
“I’d found more God in loving Tressa than decades spent on my knees in prayer.”
“She was mystery and mysticism and white-hot magic, and she was solely responsible for showing me how to believe again.”
Rebel Priest is a beautifully written forbidden romance that kept me up at all hours. The prose is stunning. The story, heartbreaking and inspiring. Adriane Leigh at her best!
This was my first read of Adriane Leigh and I want more of her writing. This story is a taboo romance that had it’s hooks in me in the most sinful way. Father Bastien aka ‘Rebel Priest’ and Tressa aka ‘Dove’ are both good God like people but the temptation and love they feel for each other is undeniable and irresistible. No matter how hard they try to walk away, they know they’re better together and is that what love is? Love makes you want to be a better you. I gave it four stars because the story change time frames without giving details which confuse me a little bit. But I absolutely fell in love with the characters and can’t wait for book#2 which is about Father Bastien’s nephew and his girlfriend.
What a great story! Bastian and Tressa s story is one of struggle, longing, challenges, desire, passion their journey will take you through all of these emotions and the characters stories. Your faith will be challenged but this page turning story will enthrall you from the first to the last page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was really excited to receive the book. This is a book full of unique twist and turns. Bastian and Tressa have an exciting story and I loved the characters. This story will touch on forbidden and inappropriate things that have and still do happen in churches, but the main idea is how Father Bastian has his own struggles and the chemistry felt between 2 soulmates. I guess it depends on your mind and how you can accept the struggles, temptation, chemistry, and the forbidden romance of a priest.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this book so much! I’ve never read anything like this before from a priest POV. I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was a quick read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thought I knew what temptation was till I read this book. With exquisite word choice, Adriane opens up a world normally viewed so common in every day life but now shaded in beautiful detail. Her take on human nature and experiences is humbling because we all meet temptation on a daily basis. This is more than a love story, it is a tale of self-discovery and the faith of humanity.
The book is a forbidden romance about a preist and some whose seeking guidance. They grow close and form a bond that has an everlasting effect on the both of them. One that neither father baseain nor tessa can ignore no matter the distance. This story is a journey of two people finding what they truly want.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book definitely hit the spot! So sexy I couldn’t put it down! Bastien is utterly gorgeous! And the sexy scenes are seriously sexy
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rebel Priest was such a wonderful story. You can’t help but fall in love with Bastien and Tressa. They both tried to fight their feelings for one another but fate had other plans! Yes this was a forbidden story but there were so many other twists and turns you don’t see coming. This is a must read. Will Bastien and Tressa get their happy ending? Can’t wait to read Cruz and Rose’s story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Love that shouldn’t happen. Taboo. Self doubt, self hate for the love that is blooming. But the heart loves whom the heart loves…right? I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book in the beginning. However, through the twists and turns I didn’t see coming I fell in love with both the H/h! Thought provoking story line for sure! Religion vs relationship!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a beautifully written intricate story, emotional, difficult, hopeful, each page drawing the reader deeper into the troubled yet stunning world of Bastien and Tressa.
An emotional rollercoaster ride, Rebel Priest doesn’t shy away from tough topics, from exploring forbidden feelings, from encompassing all of human nature – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Bastien, a devout man of faith, and Tressa, the whirlwind that blows into his life, forever changing everything for the both of them.
The emotional struggle each of them experiences is tangible, heartfelt, and heartbreaking.
Adriane Leigh has composed a story that highlights the power of faith in all its forms, how love is transcendental, and that time has the power to heal all wounds.
Though slightly taboo at times, I’d definitely recommend this story, the journey of love, of self love, towards love, and towards one another beautiful to witness!
What a story. I loved the forbidden aspect, I’ll never look at a priest the same way again. Make sure and read the love story between Father Bastien and parishioner Tressa. Is it smooth sailing? Of course not! But so worth the angst!
Led astray.
By earthly delights.
Bastien is a priest who has all the temptations of a man. Earthy temptations.
Tressa is one of his flock in need of his protection.
Temptation is s two way street.
4.5
A very hot, slow burn book for catholic girls! This is a story about a girl leaning to love in an unlikely place, the church! Taboo and innocent and scorching hot all in the same book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A beautiful written story of forbidden love. How can a single person help others his calling and stay true to himself? Two desperate hearts finding the will to live life again. I loved the hot chemistry between these two. In everything they did together undeniable. Many secrets come to light forcing eyes open to possibilities of many different form of Devotion. One purpose of life can change when crashed into another. I couldn’t put the book down. You feel the need to see where this story goes from page one to the last. Emotional for everyone. True love of trust in love
I rec
Great book! Lots of surprises and twists and turns in the book that was completely unexpected! If anything, I wish the epilogue was longer! Great job!
Rebel Priest is a steamy, raw, gritty, intense, and powerful contemporary romance. There are so many emotions and aspects of this story. The plot was so well-written and well-paced. There are twists and turns you won’t see coming. It had my attention from beginning to end. Don’t even get me started on the characters! It has wonderful characters who are multifaceted and addicting! Bastien and Tressa’s chemistry was undeniable and sizzling no matter how hard they fought it. Their love story was filled with heartbreak, stolen moments and glances, love, passion, secrets, lies, and mystery. I couldn’t put this book down. It was an emotional journey that I will not soon forget. I highly recommend reading it!
***ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.***
Not what I expected! Rebel Priest is emotional and not as taboo as I feared. The story is about compassion, love and unexpected passion. Tressa is broken and just needs to help to dust herself off and get back on her feet. Fr. Bastien will do everything he can to help Tressa but what he doesn’t expect is the journey they will embark. This story leads you on a path of the unknown. Beautifully written.