One of Entertainment Weekly’s Top Ten Romances of 2018! I’m not a good man, and I’ve never pretended to be. I don’t believe in goodness or God or any happy ending that isn’t paid for in advance.What do I believe in? Money. Sex. Macallan 18.They have words for men like me–playboy. Womanizer. Skirt chaser.My brother used to be a priest, and he only has one word for me.Sinner.Sinner is a standalone … and he only has one word for me.
Sinner.
Sinner is a standalone companion to Priest about Father Bell’s brother Sean. You do not have to read Priest or Midnight Mass to read Sinner more
Pray for Us Sinners
How to put into words this truly epic work? Compounded with expert narration and voice acting by Jacob Morgan whose velvety smooth tones made me fall in love with, wish for my own Sean Bell. Truly extraordinary, and one of the most moving books I have read.
Sean Bell happens upon Zenobia, affectionally named “Zenny bee” at a party and is immediately smitten. What he doesn’t realize was that she is the sister of his best friend; she’s 15 years his junior; and she’s about to become a nun (postulant). Zenny, about to devote her life to the church, is advised by her order to gain some life experience, experience this virgin 21 year old decides to ask Sean to teach her. After all, she always had crush on him.
A story primarily centered around Sean’s self-actualization, his self-evaluation and personal reflection, acceptance and change; coupled with his resolution of feelings for the church, his faith, and ultimately love. But most of all this is a love story from Sean’s not so forgiving eyes as a self-proclaimed sinner.
I loved reading / listening to Sean’s complete devotion to his family and newfound love to Zenny played out in his reading to his ailing mother and following the plots of historical romance books as well as creative, romantic dates with Zenny. It was also moving to experience his change in values on the definition of wealth and freedom so others might realize themselves. Work is not so important as the relationships we nurture, the people we love. His acceptance of personal tragedy and inclusion faith’s healing.
Make no misunderstanding over his sensitivity, Sean Bell is a jealous-possessive, domineering, successful (wealthy), and experienced man. At the same time, he knows how to balance the power exchange with thoughtfulness and care. When I say this is the steamiest, spiciest story I have ever read, I mean there is nothing hotter than Sean’s panty-wetting words, his prowess. This romantic dirty-talker has skillz and words to match. Phew! Add those to a baritone, velvety gravel recitation, and swoon! All the magic.
The research and sensitivity into the presentation of a woman of color was very obvious, from hair texture and care to satin pillow cases (and sheets because Sean does it a la grande) to social experiences, attitudes and stereotypes encountered. The author captured and portrayed them authentically, while countering such attitudes with a catch of a man’s devotion in a celebration of beauty and color. Likewise, I was also impressed with the medical and religious groundwork, particularly as the latter was the basis in part of the taboo and self-realization in the story.
My very slight quip is the labored angst in the heroine’s push to accepting this devoted, almost perfectly reformed hero. Sure I understand why, but yeah, it is a little unconvincing as there is nothing to say no to, certainly not to him. Admittedly, Zenny had her journey too.
What a glorious ending, almost a spiritual (for me) happily ever after. I did not want to say goodbye to this couple. I did not their story to end. All I can say is: I was moved to tears. Loved it, blinded by riding off into the sunset. One of my top favorite books of all time.
Amen
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
I can’t have Elijah Iverson. I cant have him because he’s my older brother’s best friend. I can’t have him because I broke his heart five years ago, because he’s now engaged to someone else-someone kind and dependable who deserves his whiskey eyes, his soft mouth, his fierce intellect. I can’t have Elijah because I’ve chosen God instead. The Bell brothers, though….well, we don’t exactly have the greatest track record with vows. But I’m determined to do this monk thing right-to pledge myself to a cloistered life and spend the rest of my years in chastity and prayer. But now Elijah’s here. He’s here and he’s coming with me on my European monastery road tri, and between the whispered confessions and the stolen kisses and the moments ben over an ancient altar, my vows are feeling flimsier by the day. And vows or not, I know in my heart that it would take more than a good and holy monk to resist Elijah Iverson right now. It would take a saint. And we all know that I am no saint.
This is the third book in the Priest Series but you do not have to read Priest of Sinner beforehand. I will tell you that both of those books are so amazing and you do not want to miss them. Now we get to dive in to Aiden Bell, brother of Father Bell’s book. This is also a M/M romance. I thought this was one amazing read that you are not going to be able to put down. This too was a second chance romance as the two characters in the book already have had their one chance. Aiden and Elijah had their chance and they blew it but there is still a lot that they need to face. Elijah is a writer and he has decided to write an article about the monastery’s brewery. It is also a great way to force them to confront their unresolved past and feelings and they also need to get to the true reason why Aiden became a monk. I am telling you I didn’t have very dry eyes at times this book is so emotional and filled with just this push and pull that is about maddening at times but wo wo worth the read. It was more than I thought it would be and it is exactly what I needed. I felt it done to the very soles of my feet. I cold gush about this book forever. If you love enemies to lover forbidden romance, m/m reader than this is one you do not want to miss.
[Received an ARC]
Rating 5/5 (truthfully, I really want to rate this 50000/5)
Plot 5/5
Spice 3.5-4/5
Character Development 5/5
“Sinner” is the second book in the “Priest” series by Sierra Simone. This book tells the story of Sean Bell, a wealthy manwhore, who faces a complex relationship between religion and his personal life. Sean meets a young and gorgeous woman at a fundraiser and later finds out that she is the baby sister of his best friend, Elijah Iverson. Zenobia Iverson, Zenny aka Zenny-bug used to have a crush on Sean when they were younger, but he barely noticed until now. Although Zenny is a college senior and postulant the story follows the two as Sean seduces and corrupts Zenny.
I LOVED this book! I thought Priest was amazing and then I read Sinner and fell in love all over again. The chemistry between the two was off the charts and there was a great balance between spice and plot.
First it was the Priest, now it’s the nun’s turn to be satisfied in all the ways God is supposed to be opposed to.
Zenobia Iverson has always wanted to be a nun, ever since she was little. But, now that the time to commit fully to Jesus is almost upon her, she is sent out into the world, for one last foray. Zenny has one plan. To find out what it’s like to have sex.
Sean Bell-yes, he’s Father Bell’s brother- hasn’t seen Zenny since she was seven, so when they met up at a Gala, he’s unaware of who he’s falling for.
And falling he was.
When Zenny enlists his help to remove her virginity, he’s not sure he can do it without losing his heart in the process, and his little postulant is set on being consecrated by God.
Sean had lost his faith when his sister died, but as he spends more and more time with Zenny, and his mom, who is also dying, he finds that God might just be the guy he needs after all.
This book is all kinds of kinky, sexy and downright hotness incorporated. It only made me love it more.
Whew, that was one hot and spicy read. Sinner is the next book after “Priest” and it did not disappoint. Sinner is about Tyler’s brother, Sean. Sean is a successful businessman and at a gala one night, he meets a woman that he wants, badly. However, fate has a different idea. That woman is his best friend’s little sister, Zenny. Zenny is about 15 years younger than him and there’s also one more thing. She’s going to be come a nun for the Catholic church. Zenny comes to him one night and asks for a month. One month to see what she would be missing if she took her vows and to see if she can live without them.
Sean is just one hunky piece of dirty talking alpha. I loved how uninhabited he was with Zenny and doing exactly what she needed. His dirty talk was on point and so delicious. I loved reading about Zenny coming out of her shell and discovering who she was. This book was absolutely hot and I loved every word.
Jacob Morgan was delightfully dirty once again. His portrayal of Sean was amazing and he was the right choice to bring another Bell brother to life. Like the other audiobooks, we only get a little bit from the female narrators since this story is told solely from Sean’s POV. Morae Brehon is a new to me narrator and I’m definitely going to look for more books narrated by her. I loved her voice.
HOT, HOT, HOT, and created some of the best theological discussion I’ve had with other people ever!!
Sinner is the perfect book for a book club discussion, full of two extremes that make for a great dialogue. Sean Bell is an ultimate character with excellent character growth, self aware enough that he knows he’s a sinner, but unwilling to give up his sinful ways in the beginning. However, by the end he has bridged that beautiful rainbow that you want a character to cross in character development, but Sean does it so beautifully the experience with him made me question my own path in my life. Yeah, I love when a fictional character makes me look at my own life and makes me go, “hmmmm, should I make some changes.” Hence, this is why Sinner is an excellent book club choice.
Sean is a dirty, filthy talker. Be prepared to be scorched by his knowledge between the sheets, but it’s his sweet, caring or as he calls it, bossy ways that truly made my knees weak. He takes care of everyone in his life, taking the burden upon himself, and honestly, that is supremely sexy. He takes over Zenny’s life for the month of their agreement and she finds it quite wonderful too.
For a man who, before letting Zenny into his life, was never was in love; he does the wonderful lover, possessive man, falling for Zenny when he knows he shouldn’t, very well. It’s soooooo easy to fall for Sean during his journey of self discovery in this book. How he grapples with his own faith is just one of those reasons. I’ve known several people in my own life just like him, people who’ve asked the same questions and been where he’s at in his struggle with god. Friends who’ve asked those same questions, “Why would this happen if god really existed?”, “How, could god exist if something terrible happens?”, and so on and so forth. It’s those times when darkness falls that people either fall away from faith or move closer to it and I loved that Sierra Simone grabbed this topic with both hands, wrote about it, and this AMAZING book came from it. Yes, Sinner is wonderfully dirty, but it’s also beautifully written. This story is not only super, super steamy, but the layers of depth to the taboo nature of how their romance could work was fascinating.
When Zenny comes into Sean’s life he begins to question so many things and I love how it brings to light that just one person, no matter their age, race, sexuality, gender, etc…can have an effect on your life. Just one person can change the outlook on your perspective, your outlook, your very direction on the flow of your life. This is the beauty I am referring to.
Sean Bell is so beautifully flawed that his development made me cry so many times in his fall for Zenny. Told entirely from the POV of Sean Bell, his story begins a bit egotistically. He’s completely full of himself…he’s done well in the business world, he’s good looking, and of his siblings he is the one who takes care of the others. Basically he has his **it together and while he deserves to have a bit of an ego, I love how it’s a young woman who actually digs her way into his heart, not by intention mind you, that actually knocks that big head of his down a few pegs as the story goes along.
Zenny is a family acquaintance, his best friend’s little sister, but the age gap between them is bigger than the math formula of half plus seven. Zenny is just twenty-one to Sean’s thirty-six, which may not seem bad, they are both legal adults and attracted to one another, and perhaps what would keep Sean out of Zenny’s path would be that she’s the little sister of his best friend and yes, that is a small factor in his decision of possibly avoiding her, but what is the biggest factor in Sean’s no-no column is Zenny is getting ready to devote her life to god. She is preparing to be a nun and Sean doesn’t believe in any higher power, not since his baby sister commited suicide. His faith, or lack of faith comes up a lot throughout the story, but what I love is how Sean doesn’t force his ideals on Zenny nor does Zenny force hers on him. Sean is continually moved by watching Zenny in her element and how devote she is at her young age.
This was my first book by Sierra Simone and it won’t be my last. I loved it!
! . – …
–!! , . ’ .
, ( – ) , ’ ’ . , , . !
I really enjoyed this story! The first story in this trilogy, Priest, was good but this story is phenomenal! I love the feelings Sean displays concerning Zenny and their lively banter and discussions. I was brought up Catholic, but do not practice a faith of any kind. The points made throughout this story of God and religion are so poignant and thought provoking and do not deter from the love story at all, they enhance it IMHO.
OMG! I loved this book.
This is the first book I’ve read by Sierra Simone, in this case listened, which means I also have commentary about the narrator Jacob Morgan.
I don’t know that I have ever read an author whose beautifully strung together words elicits such vibrant emotion, and who was also unabashedly comfortable with the words p*ssy, c*nt, c*ck.
This book is beyond hot, and yet had me questioning the possibilities of a relationship with God. How freaking talented do you have to be to be able to seamlessly intermingle hot, filthy, carnal sex and devotion to God? I’m so impressed. The scenes between Sean and his mother are heartbreakingly beautiful, tender, and pure love.
And…
The rasp of Jacob Morgan’s voice is swoon-worthy and panty-melting, and I’ve thrown him up onto Sebastian York high pedestal. Yum!
If sinning is wrong, I don’t want to be right! Playboy Sean Bell would make any woman want to sin over and over again. He is not a good man but he is a dirty talking, delectable, and delicious contradiction because he has a sweet and caring side toward those he loves.
You will not regret diving into this addicting romance about a man, Sean Bell, who has lost faith in God after his sister’s tragic death, and a postulate, Zenobia aka Zenny, who also happens to be his best friend’s little sister, dive into an agreement to have one month of sex. Nothing more. They are complete opposites. And how ironic is it that he is a non-believer and is suddenly and undeniably attracted to Zenny? He can’t get enough of her and she only wants to have a sexual experience with someone she trusts (who just happens to be Sean) before committing herself to God. He knows that it is wrong for so many reasons and on so many levels, but he can’t find it in himself to resist her. When that month is up, will they be able to walk away unscathed?
This is a must-read. There are so many feels and emotions. I was completely immersed in this unputdownable story. It is so well-written, perfectly paced, and the words conjure up vivid imagery, making you feel as if you are living the story and experiencing every emotion. I hated for it to end. I can’t wait to read the next book in this addicting series! Those Bell brothers are irresistibly sexy and I can’t get enough of them!!!
Sinner is a must-read! I found it to be an emotional story for many different reasons, and I consider it to be very thought-provoking too.
I didn’t realise how invested I was in Sean and Zenny until my emotions got the better of me and tears were streaming down my face. To me, their story is original because of Zenny’s future plans. I couldn’t get enough of seeing Sean and Zenny together – feeling they were perfect for each other. I loved the character development, and I adored the changes we see in Sean throughout the narrative. I found him to be nothing like I expected in all honesty, especially when alone with Zenny. His journey over the years has seen him dealing with heartache and pain and it seemed to me that Zenny came into his life at the right time – as did Sean with Zenny. Their thoughts and actions were penned brilliantly by the author. I had a good understanding of what they both were going through, and I do believe this helped bring out all the emotions that I experienced.
This story is an age-gap, best friend’s sister, forbidden romance story which focuses on trust, love, desire, heartache, healing, forgiveness, family, friendships and more. There are many hot and steamy scenes throughout this book– the chemistry and sexual tension between Sean and Zenny is palpable. I love that Sinner is written using only Sean’s POV as it works perfectly with the book’s title and it is his story after all. I did find this story to be rather slow paced and at times I wanted it to go a little faster, but maybe I was being a little too impatient to discover what happened next. This is the reason why I award Sinner 4.5 stars.
Sinner is the perfect for those looking for a hot, sexy forbidden romance. Enjoy!!
Absolutely loved this. Sean Bell is Mr. Playboy until he lays his eyes on best friends little sister Zenny. Struggling with the fact he doesn’t want to go behind Elijah’s back but wants her. To top it off he’s dealing with his mother having cancer juggling his job and trying to help Zenny find where she’s supposed to fit in! As soon as their arrangement starts Sean immediately realizes he doomed buts willing to let her go to become a nun, he just didn’t realize he was going to loose so much as once.
Sinner (Priest #2)
Sierra Simone
5/5
“I’m a dirty man sweetheart” and a dirty talking man he is. His mouth and the words that spilled out just kept introducing me to new ways to be amazed.
Sean Bell; playboy, womanizer, SINNER
Plus the age gap between him and Zenny and the fact that it was forbidden makes this book even more erotic.
I love the ways the author can make you think about God while reading raunchy romance. Sierra isn’t afraid to dive deep into uncharted water with the ways God can hurt people like the ways he did the Bell family, while still coming back to understanding God. The story is beyond beautiful while still being devastating.
Sierra is one of my all time favourite writers, I love her writing style and how she tackles difficult subjects around God, spirituality, questions of faith, grief and the mythology of it all. The beautiful erotic tales along with the spirituality of it all sets me on fire in more ways that one! This one has been sitting in my TBR list since forever!! I read Priest and Midnight Mass back in Feb 2016 and with Sierra having a new Bell brother book out soon, I thought I had better get on with reading this one. I didn’t read any of the reviews or even the blurb and just went in blind. OH. MY. GOODNESS…….
Just, WOW!!! I thought I might self combust with the heat from reading this one, talk about heady and erotic, it had me squirming in the most delicious of ways!!!
Sean Bell is a self-made playboy, he’s there to make money and have sex, not with the same woman twice though. His outlook on life is purely materialistic for his own personal gain. His younger sister committed suicide and he now doesn’t believe in God because of this, along with the fact his mum has cancer, and no matter how much of his money he throws her way she doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
He meets Zenny Iverson at an event and is immediately drawn to her, where he finds out she is very young, only 21 compared to his 36. He later finds out that he knows her, but hasn’t seen her for a while, she is his best friend’s sister who he has grown up with, he is astounded by just how beautiful and attracted he is to her, and can’t seem to get her out of his mind.
Zenny had a crush on Sean growing up, and like his sister wanted to become a nun, which is where she is at now, about to start her journey with God. But she needs to understand just what she would be missing if she commits herself to this path, and convinces Sean to spend a month with her, taking her virginity and showing her everything he knows.
These scenes with Sean talking through with Zenny what he is about to do to her, explaining it, very dirtily along the way, will have your blood at boiling point in a flash!! Seriously, the way Sierra has written these erotic scenes are just mind blowing and so scorchingly hot they really made me squirm in my seat!!!
Apart from all the sexy scenes, this is a very thought provoking and emotional read, making you re-examine your own beliefs and shortcomings. On a personal level it was a very difficult read when it came to Sean’s mum and her battle with cancer, her time spent in the hospital, and the poignant and soul destroying scenes as she loses her battle. My mum died only a couple of months ago in circumstances quite similar, so this had me sobbing! But it was beautifully done.
Loved from start to finish, unable to put down, full of emotions that had my jaw aching from laughing to tears streaming down my face, this one will also make you think and question your own faith. I can’t wait to read her new book, Saint, book 3 in this Priest series, due out in September.
These Bell brothers keep coming in HOT!
I love a spicy book, ok? But these are almost scalding in their spice, and I could really use a glass of milk, but I’m lactose intolerant, and it’s kind of a problem.
I really enjoyed the way belief and disbelief were tackled here, the complexities of an individual’s relationship with God, and the familial responsibility felt by people everywhere.
I also, surprisingly, liked the singular male POV. There’s not enough of those, done WELL, and I’m sad for the things we’re missing out on in the NA genre by not having more of them.
The heroine in this one was kind of flat, I don’t know if all of this authors heroines will feel that way to me, but right now I’m 0 for 2 .
I’m intrigued by what’s next for the Bell family.
4.5 stars .
What a scorching read I am surprised my kindle is still working!
I won’t give much away as it’s best to read not knowing too much.
Sean Bell a sinner ? That depends…..
Zenny a young girl who wants to play with fire or perhaps she wants to play with a sinner !
Complications arise they deal with them along with the erotic love making they share ..
Extremely well written as Sierra Simone does so very well.
Tyler Anselm Bell made me want to praise God like it was my job, but Sean Bell made me want to follow him straight to hell.
Sierra Simone is a weaver of words unlike anything I have read before. She has a way of making you question everything you thought you knew about not only your faith but the lack of faith you might have in God. Every moment Sean was coming to terms with this new identity it was making me question my own beliefs and if that doesn’t shake you to your core than I don’t know what will.
Sean Bell is a 36-year-old playboy and for him that is one of the greatest gifts in his life. He gets to sleep with a different woman every night and he has no shame in who he is but when he sees a gorgeous woman at a party Sean is about to get his whole world turned upside down. This woman is not only younger than him by more than a decade, but she is also someone close to his family and she is about to take her vows to become a nun. Of course, Sean doesn’t know all of this until he is past the point of no return. What happens when a sinner falls in love with a saint?
Zenobia Iverson wants to be a nun, but she is only 21 years old and doesn’t want to rush into things before she has had a chance to live life. One month, she has one month to experience all the things that she hasn’t been able to and won’t be able to after she takes her vows. Enter Sean Bell, the man who can give her all the things, mainly sex.
As Zenny and Sean start their one month long “relationship” it isn’t Zenny who is falling in love with Sean but Sean falling for Zenny. He has never felt like this before about a woman and of course it is the one woman he shouldn’t be falling for. When life happens, feelings get involved and hearts get broken can the sinner and the saint overcome what they think their life is supposed to be?
Sinner was everything opposite of Priest but in the most delicious way. As humans our faith wavers and that is OK but to lose faith entirely is to lose a part of yourself and it took Sean Bell finally falling in love with the only woman, he shouldn’t for him to see that his faith is still very much a huge part of who he is. While I loved Priest, I loved Sinner just as much and in such a different way. Saint is up next and we will get to see exactly who Aiden Bell is and the forbidden love that he shares with another.
While I love Father Bell, I love Sean Bell even more.
Zenny is getting close to the final stages of becoming a nun, but in the final month she purposes a plan to Sean….and it is an offer that he can’t refuse, even if he know that he should. She is young (21) and has very little experience in a lot of things, however, she also isn’t afraid to go after what she wants and I loved how she really came out of her shell and grew as a woman throughout this story. Sean is a wicked, dirty man and I couldn’t get enough of him. But he also has a caring and protective side to him and those are things that only a very select group of people are keen to.
I loved Zenny and Sean together. They both helped each other grow so much and overcome demons of the past. They are also heating up the pages, because there is so much steam going on. Seriously, you’ll need to fan yourself a few times!
While this story is forbidden and steamy, it was also emotional and full of so much more than just the romance between these two characters and that’s what I loved most about it.
If you’re looking for a steamy, forbidden, best friends little sister, age gap romance this is one to read.
I liked this almost as much if not more than I enjoyed Priest. I have a secret, maybe shameful love of age gap romances. This hits a couple of my trope boxes. Zeni and Shaun are so good together, even though on the face of it their relationship doesn’t work. It shouldn’t work. But it does. I do want more though. More from the Bell brothers. Especially the one who has somewhat of a side story in this.
Sinner:
“Pray for us sinners.”
There aren’t a lot of books that I wish I could read for the first time again. Sinner is one of them.
Sierra Simone is consistently one of my favorite authors. Her talent with writing is literally incomparable. No one writes like she does and no one ever will. It’s so easy to get into her character’s head and really really understand the inner turmoil they go through. Not to mention, she is absolutely hilarious.
Holy hell. Sean Bell is everything. He is eveythinggggg. Sierra is the best at writing softer alpha male. Because that’s what Sean is. He’s an alpha–through and through–and bossy, if you will but he isn’t an asshole 😉 He is gentle and patient and kind and understanding and such a carefully constructed character that it’s hard not to love him despite all his cockiness.
A lot of important concepts are explored in this book: age-gap, religion, mortality, racism. And it all comes together so astoundingly well. Such a poignant story, filled with all kinds of challenges for Sean, for sweet sweet Zenny, for them. My heart broke the whole time–literally until the very last page, I’m not even kidding–because I didn’t know how the fuck they were going to make this work.
GOD the steam. It’s not like anything else you have ever read. Dirty talk to a different fucking level. He is actually drool worthy.
This entire book will have you screaming God’s name and not necessarily in the way you think. There are no words to describe how much I love this story. Take the plunge and sin with Sean Bell. I swear to God, it’s worth it 😉
#Sinner #SeanBell #ZenobiaIverson #ZennyIverson #SierraSimone