Priest (Priest, 1)

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Sierra Simone comes her steamy, TikTok-famous Priest series, in which sinners and saints alike test the bonds of religion, love, and lust.

He's a priest, and here is his confession.

There are many rules a priest can't break. A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God. Tyler Bell has had no problem playing by the rules for the last three years after a family tragedy set him on the path to priesthood. That all changes when the delicious, sultry voice of Poppy Danforth sinks its claws in him through the screen of his confessional booth, and he can't get her sins out of his head.

It should be easy to put his impure thoughts of her to rest, considering the vows Tyler has taken. It should be nothing to overcome what the sight and sound of her does to him, when his life with the Church means everything. But once he has his first forbidden taste of those red lips, Tyler can't help but break all his rules for Poppy--no matter what it might cost them both.

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Published Mar 15, 2022

320 pages

Average rating: 6.64

344 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Annie.S
May 07, 2025
9/10 stars
I loved that this book wove the feeling of religion and of love together so beautifully. Also it was hot so so hot!
Clara Fox
Jul 25, 2025
5/10 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. First half: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ Second half: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ The good: - The s*x scenes are well written and definitely spicy. Lots of playing around with various taboos, as well as themes of domination/subjugation, and self-control. There were a couple really good scenes, which I felt were much better written then some other popular books in this genre. -S*x scenes are frequent, particularly in the first half. Lots of things happening inside the church itself, which I assume most people reading this genre want. - MMC is very likeable and relatively multi-faceted. He was well written, for this type of genre. I'd have him as a book boyfriend any day of the week. - There was an attempt at a plot (albeit, a predictable one) - Descriptions of religious items, themes, places, etc. were well-informed. You can tell the author did her research. - It's a shorter read so you don't have to take days and days to read through it (unless you would like to). The bad: - I hated the MFC. She initially comes across as a manipulative s*x addict, purposefully trying to tempt the priest away from the church. I got the sense she knew exactly what she was doing. Then half way through she becomes almost a completely different character. I assume this is the author's attempt at character development, but it falls flat imo. She gives so many mixed signals, makes completely selfish and/or irrational choices, does not communicate, is manipulative but in an "I'm a shitty person" kind of way, etc. She annoyed me, and I found myself less absorbed in the chapters with her POV because of how insufferable she is. - As a result of not liking the MFC, I didn't really like that they ended up together. I don't feel she was sufficiently redeemed. She remained annoying. - I recognize for the sake of plot, and probably as a result of this author's writing style, that a real, affectionate romance was going to blossom out of all the lust. It just seemed kind of forced and inauthentic. I didn't believe the MFC actually loved him, and I don't think the FMC had enough like... personality (? I don't really know) for him to completely F up his life for her. It felt weird that he was imploding his whole life's work/reputation/moral system for someone super mid tier. - The second half is less spicy, which I suppose is good if you like more plot driven stories. I felt it just started out BAM! and then fizzled out near the end (there are still spicy scenes, but imo they're less hot). Overall, worth a read if you're into the genre and this particular kink. I liked the audiobook. Most of my criticisms derive directly from me not liking the MFC, but maybe you'll find her less insufferable than I did.
Julia Gulia
Jun 05, 2025
9/10 stars
Very good- I’m just not a hopeless romantic.
Cindy Guinn
May 01, 2025
7/10 stars
This book made me blush. It was wild. 3.5⭐️
FabReads
Mar 29, 2025
6/10 stars
amen

Forgive us father for we have sinned. This is so sweetly sinful that I might need to go to church. But I love how the author intertwined guilt with redemption, lust with love, doubt with prayers. But I give it a 3, I feel like it was rushed and dragged at the same time. Character could use a little development. The break up was unnecessary, personally I think. Other than that I enjoyed the read.

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