Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Awww this was so well written and researched, I love the care that Simone obviously puts into her writing. Also sexy woo fun yas!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent
Moderate: Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Medical content
Ageplay
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual content, Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content, Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Suicide
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I could really relate to Sean as a character, his view on religion is more similar to mine as he is very aware of its flaws and understands how difficult it is to have faith when the world is so full of horrible events and people. I also think that Zenny didn't try to push him into Christianity and was extremely patient and kind with him in the regards, as he was with her as she explored her sexuality. I was extremely worried about the ending and was so sure it was going to upset me but I think it was very satisfying. All in all I really liked the book and finished it in a day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Grief, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Suicide, Death of parent
Minor: Racism
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ratings:
Plot:⭐⭐⭐/5
Writing:⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters:⭐⭐⭐/5
Romance:⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5
Diversity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Sadness:💧💧💧💧/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes & Kinks: best friends little sister, secret relationship, and first time (sorta)
Sinner by Sierra Simone is the second book in the Priest series and it follows Sean Bell who only cares about money and sex. One day while at a Gala he meets a newly 21 year old girl and even though she is way to young for him, Sean can not resist the pull he feels towards her. Sean later figures out that not only is she on her way to becoming a nun but she's also none other than Zenobia Iverson, Sean's best friend's little sister. With this new information Sean comes to the decision that nothing can happen with her until one day she comes to Sean with a preposition, she asks him to show her everything she will be missing when she becomes a nun and when she says everything she means EVERYTHING including sex. Even though Sean is fully aware of what a bad idea that is, the pull to Zenny is just a little too strong for him to say no.
I definitely enjoyed this book more than I did the Priest. The character and romance development was so much better in this book, I actually felt like I knew the characters and wanted to see where their story went. I found their romance to be more developed and less insta lovie and I actually cared about their relationship and them ending up together.
Just like the Priest the strongest aspect of this book is the writing, the writing is really well done and very beautiful. I really enjoy the way Sierra Simone writes smuts scenes, they are written really well. Speaking of smut, the smut in this book is just as hot as it was in the first one, all though it definitely isn't as taboo as it was in the first one (not to say there isn't taboo moments because there definitely is) and I feel as though there wasn't as many as the first book.
I really appreciated the diversity in this book, Zenny is a black woman and there is even gay and bisexual rep in this books. I loved how there was a conversation about racism in this book and I loved how it talked about how a cis white person may not intentionally be racist but due to the fact that they are white and grew up that way they more likely then not have contributed to racism towards person of color in some way and that doesn't make them a bad person as long as they are aware of the privileges they get just for being white and try their best to be an ally towards people of color. I just think that the whole situation was done beautifully and I'm really happy that it was included in the story.
I also loved how there was a conversation about how inherently hard it is coming out as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and no matter how supportive you are, it doesn't change the fact that coming out is very daunting and difficult. Someone not coming out to right away doesn't mean they don't trust you or that they think you are homophobic it just that coming out is hard and takes time and they will tell you when they are comfortable enough with it.
That all being said, I didn't absolutely love this book. At moments it could be slow and it never really hooked me, there wasn't a time where I felt like I had to keep reading. Again I feel like I would have enjoyed this book alot more if we had gotten Zenny's point of view and I wish we had focused a little bit more on their relationship and had got more scenes of them doing other things outside of sex because I can only think of one scene where their relationship grew without the help of sex.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but I just can't justify giving it more than 3 stars. I do plan on reading the next book and I'm excited to see Aiden and Elijah's relationship grow.
Plot:⭐⭐⭐/5
Writing:⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters:⭐⭐⭐/5
Romance:⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5
Diversity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Sadness:💧💧💧💧/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes & Kinks: best friends little sister, secret relationship, and first time (sorta)
Sinner by Sierra Simone is the second book in the Priest series and it follows Sean Bell who only cares about money and sex. One day while at a Gala he meets a newly 21 year old girl and even though she is way to young for him, Sean can not resist the pull he feels towards her. Sean later figures out that not only is she on her way to becoming a nun but she's also none other than Zenobia Iverson, Sean's best friend's little sister. With this new information Sean comes to the decision that nothing can happen with her until one day she comes to Sean with a preposition, she asks him to show her everything she will be missing when she becomes a nun and when she says everything she means EVERYTHING including sex. Even though Sean is fully aware of what a bad idea that is, the pull to Zenny is just a little too strong for him to say no.
I definitely enjoyed this book more than I did the Priest. The character and romance development was so much better in this book, I actually felt like I knew the characters and wanted to see where their story went. I found their romance to be more developed and less insta lovie and I actually cared about their relationship and them ending up together.
Just like the Priest the strongest aspect of this book is the writing, the writing is really well done and very beautiful. I really enjoy the way Sierra Simone writes smuts scenes, they are written really well. Speaking of smut, the smut in this book is just as hot as it was in the first one, all though it definitely isn't as taboo as it was in the first one (not to say there isn't taboo moments because there definitely is) and I feel as though there wasn't as many as the first book.
I really appreciated the diversity in this book, Zenny is a black woman and there is even gay and bisexual rep in this books. I loved how there was a conversation about racism in this book and I loved how it talked about how a cis white person may not intentionally be racist but due to the fact that they are white and grew up that way they more likely then not have contributed to racism towards person of color in some way and that doesn't make them a bad person as long as they are aware of the privileges they get just for being white and try their best to be an ally towards people of color. I just think that the whole situation was done beautifully and I'm really happy that it was included in the story.
I also loved how there was a conversation about how inherently hard it is coming out as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and no matter how supportive you are, it doesn't change the fact that coming out is very daunting and difficult. Someone not coming out to right away doesn't mean they don't trust you or that they think you are homophobic it just that coming out is hard and takes time and they will tell you when they are comfortable enough with it.
That all being said, I didn't absolutely love this book. At moments it could be slow and it never really hooked me, there wasn't a time where I felt like I had to keep reading. Again I feel like I would have enjoyed this book alot more if we had gotten Zenny's point of view and I wish we had focused a little bit more on their relationship and had got more scenes of them doing other things outside of sex because I can only think of one scene where their relationship grew without the help of sex.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but I just can't justify giving it more than 3 stars. I do plan on reading the next book and I'm excited to see Aiden and Elijah's relationship grow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
dark
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Death of parent
Minor: Racism
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual content, Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide, Pregnancy
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I realized that I dislike romance that centers God/Church so much. The concept doesn't bother me on a spiritual level, I just feel like the drama/angst is focused on an issue that I don't relate to at this point in my life.
That being said- those are MY issues, not the book issues. Taking out the Church, which I knew was going to be in the story, I found this age-gap, BFF's little sister to be an interesting story. The sex is very hot and the instant attraction fits better when the duo have known each other for so many years (especially in an age-gap romance). I really don't think that I like the Bell men. They're kind of obnoxious and self-centered. They go on and on and on about what they feel and what makes them angry/fearful/etc. and why they are allowed to be assholes. It gets old very fast. However, I was a little grossed out when Sean kept remembering that he held her as a baby. I feel like Sean was disappointed in himself for falling for someone so young, which helped me get past that piece of it. Zenny is clearly someone who is best described as devoted, so it makes sense that she would get her HEA so young.
4.25 stars because I will definitely be reading Aiden's book when it comes out. Sierra Simone does a great job of writing characters I don't necessarily like but stories that I love.
That being said- those are MY issues, not the book issues. Taking out the Church, which I knew was going to be in the story, I found this age-gap, BFF's little sister to be an interesting story. The sex is very hot and the instant attraction fits better when the duo have known each other for so many years (especially in an age-gap romance). I really don't think that I like the Bell men. They're kind of obnoxious and self-centered. They go on and on and on about what they feel and what makes them angry/fearful/etc. and why they are allowed to be assholes. It gets old very fast. However, I was a little grossed out when Sean kept remembering that he held her as a baby. I feel like Sean was disappointed in himself for falling for someone so young, which helped me get past that piece of it. Zenny is clearly someone who is best described as devoted, so it makes sense that she would get her HEA so young.
4.25 stars because I will definitely be reading Aiden's book when it comes out. Sierra Simone does a great job of writing characters I don't necessarily like but stories that I love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Grief
Minor: Pedophilia, Racism