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Beautiful Sinner
Lord, help me...
A beautiful, young American girl wound up stranded far from home on my doorstep.
When she begged me to stay, I did what a good priest would do, and I said yes.
But a good priest wouldn’t spend his days thinking about the fullness of her ruby red lips or feel the sting of envy with the way she draws men to her like flies to honey.
A good priest would have stopped things before that first touch. And he certainly wouldn’t have given into temptation so easily, but Cadence Thorn walked in and brought me to my knees.
A good priest doesn’t break his vows.
But I am not a good priest.
A beautiful, young American girl wound up stranded far from home on my doorstep.
When she begged me to stay, I did what a good priest would do, and I said yes.
But a good priest wouldn’t spend his days thinking about the fullness of her ruby red lips or feel the sting of envy with the way she draws men to her like flies to honey.
A good priest would have stopped things before that first touch. And he certainly wouldn’t have given into temptation so easily, but Cadence Thorn walked in and brought me to my knees.
A good priest doesn’t break his vows.
But I am not a good priest.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2020
About the author
Sara Cate
33 books11.7k followersSara Cate is a USA Today best-selling author of steamy romance and sexy book boyfriends. Although she writes a wide range of tropes, Sara is best known for her age gap and taboo romances. One thing you can expect from her entire collection is heaps of steam and plenty of angst.
Living in Arizona with her husband and kids, Sara spends most of her time reading, writing, or baking.
Find out more at: www.saracatebooks.com
Living in Arizona with her husband and kids, Sara spends most of her time reading, writing, or baking.
Find out more at: www.saracatebooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 510 reviews
February 13, 2021
3. Stars I really wanted to love this book. I love the storyline and the setting. The character growth kind of fell flat and I didn’t feel a connection with them.
I had high hopes. Forbidden romance with a priest is one of my favorites. There aren’t many books out with this trope, so when I see one, I jump in. The book started without a hitch. I loved it, then it seemed to fall flat around 23% and then picked up @ 62%. I almost didn’t finish but kept on pushing. Then towards the end, the book picked up.
I get that Callum had reservations and takes his vows to be a priest very seriously but his actions were immature and at times he was callous. Cadence did have some character growth. I just expected more.
I do like and recommend this author's books. This book just wasn’t for me. I feel like the author was holding back. It has such great potential. But don’t let my review discourage you from reading this. It maybe a five star for you.
I had high hopes. Forbidden romance with a priest is one of my favorites. There aren’t many books out with this trope, so when I see one, I jump in. The book started without a hitch. I loved it, then it seemed to fall flat around 23% and then picked up @ 62%. I almost didn’t finish but kept on pushing. Then towards the end, the book picked up.
I get that Callum had reservations and takes his vows to be a priest very seriously but his actions were immature and at times he was callous. Cadence did have some character growth. I just expected more.
I do like and recommend this author's books. This book just wasn’t for me. I feel like the author was holding back. It has such great potential. But don’t let my review discourage you from reading this. It maybe a five star for you.
October 31, 2021
5 stars!Once again, don’t let the cover fool you! This book, while sure, it’s steamy, is such a sweet romance story! Callum found his calling to join the church in his late twenties, and he loves his job. He runs a bed and breakfast with his sister in a little town in Ireland. Cadence, who we met and didn’t particularly like in the first book in this series, falls in love with some random guy she meets on a bus tour, follows him to this little town, where he steals her money and abandons her. A common scam (apparently), but Cadence is young and naive and she’s left heartbroken. I actually loved Cadence as a romance heroine. She’s sweet and falls in love far too easily, and as a result of this, she questions her feelings for Callum the entire book. She doesn’t have a lot of self-confidence, and it shows in the way that she’s portrayed, and, honestly, the way that she’s latched on to every guy who pays her attention.
Callum is immediately drawn to Cadence, but he’s torn between his vows and exploring his feelings for Cadence. The book is a little bit of an enemies-to-lovers romance, because he’s quite mean to her at first.
I’m not particularly religious, but I loved the way that this book explores the themes of finding your calling, providence, and figuring out who you are and what you should be doing with your life. This theme is reflected in both Callum and Cadence’s individual growth. I think the title of the book “Beautiful Sinner” demonstrates the dichotomy of the purposes for this book, which nicely balanced the steamy bits and the soul-searching aspects.
Callum is immediately drawn to Cadence, but he’s torn between his vows and exploring his feelings for Cadence. The book is a little bit of an enemies-to-lovers romance, because he’s quite mean to her at first.
I’m not particularly religious, but I loved the way that this book explores the themes of finding your calling, providence, and figuring out who you are and what you should be doing with your life. This theme is reflected in both Callum and Cadence’s individual growth. I think the title of the book “Beautiful Sinner” demonstrates the dichotomy of the purposes for this book, which nicely balanced the steamy bits and the soul-searching aspects.
March 15, 2021
this h isn't even broken - she just lacks even the tiniest bit of common sense
why is she even a heroine - totally unlikable
ugh
why is she even a heroine - totally unlikable
ugh
July 2, 2022
Mmm, this was the delicious age gap, priest romance I've been waiting to read. Beautiful Sinner is about Callum, an Irish priest, and Cadence, an American girl stranded in Ireland after essentially being scammed and robbed by some strangers she was traveling with. Cadence stays at the bed and breakfast owned by Callum's sister. Since Cadence is not in a rush to head back to America, she applies as a front desk/maintenance worker at the B&B, and of course is hired, much to Callum's dismay. Callum is attracted to Cadence immediately which puts him through some angsty conflict given the priestly vows he took. It doesn't help that there's basically a 20 year age gap between them (Cadence is in her early 20s, Callum is in his early 40s), because Callum can't figure out why he is attracted to someone who should be his complete opposite.
I loved Callum's struggle with being a priest. The author did a great job at showing how he became a priest in the first place, which I think helps us see why he broke the vows after years of abstinence. He became a priest at a young time in his life when he needed something to ground him, and he found that in God and the priesthood. However, it has served his purpose and it was ok for him to move on to wanting to find love and partnership with a woman who he cares deeply for. I also loved the conflict towards the end because Cadence needed someone who would choose to put her first, and Callum needed to process his decision regarding the priesthood so he could be all in when it came to choosing Cadence.
The main reason I'm knocking this a star is because I really didn't like when Callum called the heroine a "slut" TWICE in the beginning of the book, for no good reason other than he was frustrated that he was attracted to her. Like it really irked me. It's one thing to use that term in the bedroom in a kinky fashion, but Callum used it maliciously and I didn't care for that.
Other than that, this was a great read, and as always I enjoy this author's sensual style of writing!
TROPES: priest romance; age gap; set in Ireland; surprise pregnancy
TRIGGER WARNINGS: mentions of abortion
I loved Callum's struggle with being a priest. The author did a great job at showing how he became a priest in the first place, which I think helps us see why he broke the vows after years of abstinence. He became a priest at a young time in his life when he needed something to ground him, and he found that in God and the priesthood. However, it has served his purpose and it was ok for him to move on to wanting to find love and partnership with a woman who he cares deeply for. I also loved the conflict towards the end because Cadence needed someone who would choose to put her first, and Callum needed to process his decision regarding the priesthood so he could be all in when it came to choosing Cadence.
The main reason I'm knocking this a star is because I really didn't like when Callum called the heroine a "slut" TWICE in the beginning of the book, for no good reason other than he was frustrated that he was attracted to her. Like it really irked me. It's one thing to use that term in the bedroom in a kinky fashion, but Callum used it maliciously and I didn't care for that.
Other than that, this was a great read, and as always I enjoy this author's sensual style of writing!
TROPES: priest romance; age gap; set in Ireland; surprise pregnancy
TRIGGER WARNINGS: mentions of abortion
September 30, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫✨ 3.75 stars
Unfortunately, this couldn’t beat Beautiful Monster for me. This was a very interesting and unique story, with taboo elements that are rarely seen. This also had an atypical setting, Ireland, which I adored!
I really enjoyed the plot, but I didn’t love the characters as much as Beautiful Monster by the same author.
I would still recommend, especially to those who enjoy taboo romances, but with less enthusiasm than BM.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Unfortunately, this couldn’t beat Beautiful Monster for me. This was a very interesting and unique story, with taboo elements that are rarely seen. This also had an atypical setting, Ireland, which I adored!
I really enjoyed the plot, but I didn’t love the characters as much as Beautiful Monster by the same author.
I would still recommend, especially to those who enjoy taboo romances, but with less enthusiasm than BM.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
June 13, 2022
“I don’t know what the fuck a Hail Mary is, but I have a feeling I’ll need to do a lot more than thirty with the way I’m thinking right now.”
What an enjoyable, forbidden, and steamy read this one was! There are random moments when I’m in the mood for a forbidden read, and a priest one is always a favourite of mine. I dont know if it’s because I grew up going to church and the taboo aspect makes my evil laugh, but it’s fine - I love it! This book definitely satisfied that want because this one was delicious! I was expecting something totally different than what I read. This novel, although it had the delicious boundaries being fought against, it was also a super wholesome book of two characters finding themselves. It really was a beautiful story between two sinners😉
“I may have had Able already, but now I’m bringing out the Cain, and I like it.”
Cadence was such a fun character. She played the whole “I don’t give a shit” attitude to outsiders, but inside she was really struggling. She was sassy and loved to play with temptation, she definitely got a high from it and I understand when there is a hot 44 year old priest at hand. As for Callum, I loved his character. He was this brooding priest that only focused on his priesthood, but when temptation comes, it’s hard to fight off. In this case, Callum didn’t do the best. But the moment he broke? OH MY GOD - I was excited. It was delicious and I loved every interaction between these two.
The character “past trait” (I dont know if that’s a thing, go with it) for Cadence I felt was not needed. She had great development and I think her secret didn’t add much to her as she had already grown so much from the beginning to end.
I would give this novel a 4✨
Steam rating: 2🔥
What an enjoyable, forbidden, and steamy read this one was! There are random moments when I’m in the mood for a forbidden read, and a priest one is always a favourite of mine. I dont know if it’s because I grew up going to church and the taboo aspect makes my evil laugh, but it’s fine - I love it! This book definitely satisfied that want because this one was delicious! I was expecting something totally different than what I read. This novel, although it had the delicious boundaries being fought against, it was also a super wholesome book of two characters finding themselves. It really was a beautiful story between two sinners😉
“I may have had Able already, but now I’m bringing out the Cain, and I like it.”
Cadence was such a fun character. She played the whole “I don’t give a shit” attitude to outsiders, but inside she was really struggling. She was sassy and loved to play with temptation, she definitely got a high from it and I understand when there is a hot 44 year old priest at hand. As for Callum, I loved his character. He was this brooding priest that only focused on his priesthood, but when temptation comes, it’s hard to fight off. In this case, Callum didn’t do the best. But the moment he broke? OH MY GOD - I was excited. It was delicious and I loved every interaction between these two.
The character “past trait” (I dont know if that’s a thing, go with it) for Cadence I felt was not needed. She had great development and I think her secret didn’t add much to her as she had already grown so much from the beginning to end.
I would give this novel a 4✨
Steam rating: 2🔥
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October 8, 2021
I need to believe in fate. If I am not reading the book very moment that means I just shouldn't read it. It going to be bad. Really really bad. But no. Every fucking time.
I am just giving 2 stars because book was okay written even if the story sucked. Hard.
Why nobody warned me in the reviews what a mess this book was. Even if I shouldn't waste my time on this book anymore by writing review and probably no one will read this, I am still going to write all about I should have been warned. I have hid it with spoilers marks.
I also wanted to read beautiful monster but thank god I checked reviews and god help me there is a pattern
For men in there 40's these books seems so childish and immature. And let me not even get started with the h in this book.
There are so many things I didn't like about this book.
I mean why would I ever want to read a book where MC's having sex with other person just because of the push and pull and in the middle of the book. I am pretty sure h having sex with OM in this book was to compensate H having sex with OW in the book beautiful monster.
Beautiful sinner? My ass. There is nothing beautiful about this book. Even a three years later epilogue couldn't salvage my ruined day.
I was hoping at least for good sex scene. Guess what? I didn't even get that. After having sex with OM you will think there will be fire crackling sex between MC's and it will so hot. It was so dry I don't even know what to say. There was no chemistry or love. There was no spark. Nothing.
So much disappointment. Never reading books by this author again.
Do I regret read this book and wasting my time which I will never get back?
YES YES YES. A 100 TIMES YES!
Would have I read this book if I would have known all this?
FUCK NO
Do I recommend this book?
No
I am just giving 2 stars because book was okay written even if the story sucked. Hard.
Why nobody warned me in the reviews what a mess this book was. Even if I shouldn't waste my time on this book anymore by writing review and probably no one will read this, I am still going to write all about I should have been warned. I have hid it with spoilers marks.
I also wanted to read beautiful monster but thank god I checked reviews and god help me there is a pattern
For men in there 40's these books seems so childish and immature. And let me not even get started with the h in this book.
There are so many things I didn't like about this book.
I mean why would I ever want to read a book where MC's having sex with other person just because of the push and pull and in the middle of the book. I am pretty sure h having sex with OM in this book was to compensate H having sex with OW in the book beautiful monster.
Beautiful sinner? My ass. There is nothing beautiful about this book. Even a three years later epilogue couldn't salvage my ruined day.
I was hoping at least for good sex scene. Guess what? I didn't even get that. After having sex with OM you will think there will be fire crackling sex between MC's and it will so hot. It was so dry I don't even know what to say. There was no chemistry or love. There was no spark. Nothing.
So much disappointment. Never reading books by this author again.
Do I regret read this book and wasting my time which I will never get back?
YES YES YES. A 100 TIMES YES!
Would have I read this book if I would have known all this?
FUCK NO
Do I recommend this book?
No
June 11, 2022
"It's not right of me to keep my wows to the clergy when they belong to you."
U think this is a hot reading with age gap n' priest-sinner trope.
Hell no.
I know it's rare if I like a heroine. but in this Cadence is the classic stereotype american girl in every way- the annoying one. Like, attention seeker slut one, that bc of her daddy issues she falls for everyone. Very much like me.
I read this after Praise n' Eyes on Me and I can say Cate's pen has improved a lot in two years (at least to me). I don't like too-many-pages-romances however I don't like the feeling of rushed stories. This one was another problem for me.
Whatever. It's Ireland, a 24 naive american girl happens to have to stay in a family hotel. 44 Callum is the brother of the owner n' helps his sister aside from being the priest of the town, also a total jerk to her.
The story and the pace are ok but misunderstandings were ridiculous, but shocking thing is it was not cuz' he admits it she was right (I'm not gonna spoil). There is no cogent reason why he did not run after her right away, it was 3 months later for fuck sake. Also how I'm supposed to believe her who thinks the man (who fooled her) is the one days later after meeting, like dozens of other 'the one', when I read at the beginning of the book, how she believes that idea?
what a shame all these daddy issues n irish father wasted
xoxoxo
iko
July 18, 2022
- ya she’s definitely stupid wtf. I have never read a FMC who’s so stupid so early
- what the FUCK did he say to her?????
- …. Ok this time he WASNT drunk and he STILL called her that???? No way he’s redeemable for me
- no no. I absolutely do not believe he’s in love with her. Not at all
- wow I don’t like her.
- wowwwwww I really don’t like him either.
- he’s too old to be acting like an idiot. It’s very unattractive how he doesn’t care about her reputation
- … what the hell???? You’re gonna have a kid with a priest when that priest is not offering any other sort of commitment??? I can’t even with Callum. You want a secret kid??? How Christian of you. How stupid are these characters???
- oh thank god. She’s still stupid for agreeing for a kids. Doesn’t matter if he changed his mind about being a priest. She didn’t know that
- NOW you worry about the consequences??? AFTER you get pregnant??? FFS
- I hated this.
- what the FUCK did he say to her?????
- …. Ok this time he WASNT drunk and he STILL called her that???? No way he’s redeemable for me
- no no. I absolutely do not believe he’s in love with her. Not at all
- wow I don’t like her.
- wowwwwww I really don’t like him either.
- he’s too old to be acting like an idiot. It’s very unattractive how he doesn’t care about her reputation
- … what the hell???? You’re gonna have a kid with a priest when that priest is not offering any other sort of commitment??? I can’t even with Callum. You want a secret kid??? How Christian of you. How stupid are these characters???
- oh thank god. She’s still stupid for agreeing for a kids. Doesn’t matter if he changed his mind about being a priest. She didn’t know that
- NOW you worry about the consequences??? AFTER you get pregnant??? FFS
- I hated this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
Bueno, un libro terrible en el que sólo existe culpabilidad católica, slut shaming sólo porque él no puede follársela y ella disfruta del sexo y definitivamente no existen ni los preliminares (que no sean que ella le llame a él "Padre" 🙄). Nada ha tenido sentido en este libro, desde el paso del tiempo, a lo rápido que ella se enamora, al "plot twist" que ella le está ocultando y por lo que se siente súper culpable.
En fin, terrible elección pero era de un club de lectura así que a apechugar. Si pudiera darle 0 estrellas se las daba.
En fin, terrible elección pero era de un club de lectura así que a apechugar. Si pudiera darle 0 estrellas se las daba.
June 12, 2023
Fleabag S2 if the Hot Priest was grumpy and they had a HEA with a babies & marriage epilogue:
October 20, 2020
I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy this one, but it just wasn’t for me and it was a DNF. I’m SO disappointed because I love this trope and new books with this theme don’t pop up too often, especially ones that are well done.
But the reason I love the ‘priest falls in love plot’ is of course the taboo aspect of it. An ‘innocent’ priest who meets the h, the building sexual tension and not being able to resist, the progression from innocent to giving into temptation, and the angst that goes along with a priest trying to choose between a forbidden love and his life’s calling. These make for some of the most passionate and steamy books, so for me it is a total wasted opportunity when these books have a shameless Christian Grey copycat as the priest and it’s pretty much just insta lust and sex scenes. Don’t get me wrong, I love smut as much as the next person. But I always look for a bit more substance when it comes to this theme, and I didn’t find that here. The author was clearly going for the older, sexually confident and bossy alpha male type of H and it just doesn’t work for a story about a priest. Callum was not believable as a priest at all - from the beginning he was cussing, rude, arrogant, and just kept thinking dirty thoughts about the h in a way that your average joe would.
You almost forget it’s a forbidden love story but then words like “hail Mary” and “temptation” are thrown in to remind us that it’s supposed to be taboo. It all came across as very contrived and forced. The progression of ‘innocence’ to the dirty stuff is the best part of these books for me, so it was very unsatisfying that this book skipped over that.
If I wanted to read a book about a sexually dominant older man who can’t stop thinking about a hot younger employee, who also can’t resist him back, I could pick up literally any other romance book. I was hoping for a little more originality here and sadly it fell short for me. But if you’re just looking for some erotica with a taboo backdrop and don’t care much about the actual story and romance then this could be for you. To each her own!
But the reason I love the ‘priest falls in love plot’ is of course the taboo aspect of it. An ‘innocent’ priest who meets the h, the building sexual tension and not being able to resist, the progression from innocent to giving into temptation, and the angst that goes along with a priest trying to choose between a forbidden love and his life’s calling. These make for some of the most passionate and steamy books, so for me it is a total wasted opportunity when these books have a shameless Christian Grey copycat as the priest and it’s pretty much just insta lust and sex scenes. Don’t get me wrong, I love smut as much as the next person. But I always look for a bit more substance when it comes to this theme, and I didn’t find that here. The author was clearly going for the older, sexually confident and bossy alpha male type of H and it just doesn’t work for a story about a priest. Callum was not believable as a priest at all - from the beginning he was cussing, rude, arrogant, and just kept thinking dirty thoughts about the h in a way that your average joe would.
You almost forget it’s a forbidden love story but then words like “hail Mary” and “temptation” are thrown in to remind us that it’s supposed to be taboo. It all came across as very contrived and forced. The progression of ‘innocence’ to the dirty stuff is the best part of these books for me, so it was very unsatisfying that this book skipped over that.
If I wanted to read a book about a sexually dominant older man who can’t stop thinking about a hot younger employee, who also can’t resist him back, I could pick up literally any other romance book. I was hoping for a little more originality here and sadly it fell short for me. But if you’re just looking for some erotica with a taboo backdrop and don’t care much about the actual story and romance then this could be for you. To each her own!
October 22, 2020
Dear Lord, I've never wanted to slap some sense into someone so bad. Ugh, the h is the most pathetic, stupidest character I've ever met.
Meeting a guy 4 days before and saying she is in love with him?
And then gets scammed by him?
And then saying he won't scam her bc they had a "connection"
And then being all judge-y to the guy who helped your drugged dumbass back to the room?
September 30, 2020
Cadence and Callums story was the perfect taboo story. Cadence finds herself in a B&B in Ireland that’s owned by Callum and his sister and the connection they felt was instantaneous which shocked Callum who is a priest but he can’t Cadence out of his mind no matter how hard he tries. These two both are damaged in there own ways and I think that’s what called to each one and drew them closer without there consent. I loved the rawness of this story, these two were fleshed out completely
December 7, 2021
Not my usual choice of trope, but I did it for Sara Cate. It's an entertaining and almost heart-breaking book. The passion the two main heroes felt was real and hot and addictive. It was a quick read that I couldn't put down! I may go ahead and read Beautiful Monster next!
September 28, 2020
Beautiful Sinner by Sara Cate is a steamy and romantic book about forbidden love and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's about Cadence, a young woman stranded in Ireland without money and passport and Callum, the local priest and brother of the owner of the B&B Cadence stays in. They get to know each other better as Cadence starts working at the B&B and eventually feel a pull towards each other everytime they are alone. But Callum swore his live to the church so how could he fall in love with Cadence? He's in a constant fight between his conscience and his lust. But is his job really worth to lose Cadence?
I loved this book so much, I couldn't stop reading! (I stayed up until 2am to finish it in one sitting!!) Beautiful Sinner has the perfect mix of drama, romance and steamy scenes. I loved how complex the characters are and that even the side characters have a back story. All in all I can recommend this book to everyone who loves forbidden love stories with great steamy scenes!
I loved this book so much, I couldn't stop reading! (I stayed up until 2am to finish it in one sitting!!) Beautiful Sinner has the perfect mix of drama, romance and steamy scenes. I loved how complex the characters are and that even the side characters have a back story. All in all I can recommend this book to everyone who loves forbidden love stories with great steamy scenes!
October 9, 2022
This was way better than I anticipated.
I loved these characters and the mess they made. I love Cadence. I loved her spunk, her heart and the way she stood up for her sexuality as a woman. She was a tad immature, but she was only 24 years old. And honestly, with the situation she falls into, I would have spiraled too.
Callum was a tough nut to crack, but boy was that fun to read. He’s so deliciously torn between this beautiful woman and being a priest. Like he’s SO torn it’s unreal.
But their fight in delicious.
The ending wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was what I expected.
All in all, a good, sexy, Irish priest romance? Can’t beat this shit.
I recommend.
I loved these characters and the mess they made. I love Cadence. I loved her spunk, her heart and the way she stood up for her sexuality as a woman. She was a tad immature, but she was only 24 years old. And honestly, with the situation she falls into, I would have spiraled too.
Callum was a tough nut to crack, but boy was that fun to read. He’s so deliciously torn between this beautiful woman and being a priest. Like he’s SO torn it’s unreal.
But their fight in delicious.
The ending wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was what I expected.
All in all, a good, sexy, Irish priest romance? Can’t beat this shit.
I recommend.
June 30, 2021
Our love is not a sin; it’s salvation.
Loosely tied to the novel Beautiful Monster, Beautiful Sinner by Sara Cate is an absolute gem of a romance of the forbidden variety. 44 year old Callum Moore is a priest in an Irish town, who is left blindsided by his encounter with the 24 year old Cadence, a young American who happens to come to stay at the Ennis Bed & Breakfast that is owned by Callum’s sister.
Cadence comes to the B&B with a group of youngsters touring Europe, the guy she is with whom she considers to be her boyfriend when he is anything but. Waking up the next morning to find that they had all left her behind, and that her “boyfriend” had taken her passport, credit cards, and any valuables she might have had along with him, needless to say Cadence feels like the worst screw up ever.
Having to wait two weeks for everything to be resolved, it is Cadence’s sister that tells her that this could be a good thing, that being alone is perhaps what is right for Cadence to sort out her priorities and just enjoy her ownself. But the mere thought of being alone sends Cadence into a state of panic, especially when she finds herself attracted to none other than the priest of the town, the man who looks upon her so disapprovingly from afar.
Callum is a man who found his calling towards his late twenties, firm in his belief standing true to it all. Cadence presents the first real temptation to ever cross his path since he took his vow of celibacy and that presents problems of the kind that he never thought he would have to deal with. It certainly does not help matters when Cadence proves herself to be made of stronger and sterner stuff than he gives her credit for.
It is only logical that two opposites such as Callum and Cadence, the former being a stickler for what is right and the latter being someone who is free with her affections in a way that does not create a favorable impression of her, would totally clash. And clash they do at first, until they both come to see more in each other and that perhaps in each other lies their future, rocky as the road maybe in the journey towards their ultimate destination.
There is an interesting psychology to Cadence, which Ms. Cate reveals layer by layer. The picture that emerges is of a child who never had a mother figure, who held the roles and responsibilities of acting like the adult in the family even when she was merely a child herself, and later on lost her way somewhere in the middle. Her fear of being left alone makes sense when all of that is put together, the resulting effect being someone who is too free with her love and affection when it comes to those unworthy of it. It takes a whole lot of soul searching and pain for Cadence to understand the same and it was a rewarding journey for the reader as well when she finally achieved the insurmountable.
I find that Ms. Cate has a unique way of writing hugely flawed characters that gives reader deeper insight into what they are, which makes for really intriguing reading. It is easier to judge a character at the surface level; Callum being the priest and the person who gave up his whole life to serve God as the righteous one and see Cadence as just the opposite. Almost always, there are reasons behind why we act the way we do. No one is born a sinner, nor are we saints. We are human, and how we are brought up, the psychology of those around us, the values we are instilled with, all of that and more charts the course of our lives for the most part. Deviating from all of that takes courage, and that is what I found in Cadence as her character grew out of what was holding her back in a big way.
Callum is a super sexy hero – no two ways about it. There is of course, the forbidden lure to him, but at the same time it is the way Ms. Cate has created him, giving him that rough edge with an inner core that is gentle at the same time. Callum is a man who chose his path because he believed it was his calling, but when Cadence comes and puts it all into disarray, he is flummoxed and resistant at first, but there is no stopping the heart from wanting what it wants, especially the forbidden fruit.
Callum also has a take charge attitude in bed that leaves the reader wanting more, and I loved every sizzling second of it. When Callum gives in, he does so spectacularly, and I am pretty certain that no reader would have been left unmoved by what he represents at that point.
The epilogue three years down the line clinched the deal for me with this book, to witness Callum and Cadence living their happily ever after, having reached their destination after all that heartache and angst. Callum teaches Cadence that she is worth everything, and Cadence in return understands that their love is worth it. Nothing puts a bigger smile on the reader’s face than that!
Recommended for fans of forbidden romances featuring two protagonists who are the direct opposite of each other. Ms. Cate has outdone herself with this number!
Final Verdict: Beautiful Sinner is one of those books that as a reader you can never get enough of. Callum makes you yearn for your own forbidden romance and Cadence leaves you with the understanding that your deepest flaws could well become your biggest strength!
Rating = 5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
September 23, 2020
Freakinv loved it! As usual Sara didn't disappoint .... Was totally on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened next!
September 29, 2022
Readie read ✅
— Beautiful Sinner —
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paige Weaver ✅
— Beautiful Monster —
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
— Beautiful Sinner —
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paige Weaver ✅
— Beautiful Monster —
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 1, 2021
Beautiful Sinner
is a must read. This book is so much more than a taboo/forbidden age-gap romance. It is about self-discovery, growth and sacrifices. Cadence was a young, American girl whose impulsive and bad choices often left her in a vulnerable position. One of those decisions landed her at a Bed and Breakfast in Ireland. That is where she meets Callum - a sexy, broody man much older than her; a man whose attention she seemed to have captured; a man devoted to God - a priest.
Cadence and Callum were two lost souls. They were at a point in their lives where they seemed to have settled for the only version of themselves they thought existed. Their love story was raw and emotional. It was filled with angst, confusion, frustration and temptation. There was an unexplainable, strong pull between the two of them that they couldn't control.
I believe that when Cadence first arrived at the B&B, Callum was drawn to her because he was able to recognized the emptiness and insecurity that she tried to mask. He was able to see right through her and that made him wary and angry. Callum was at times cruel with his words striking right at the core of Cadence's insecurities. He infuriated me so much, but that's what made this story so captivating. He was struggling with his inner demons - trying to stay loyal to the world he has made himself believe his belongs to or sacrificing it all for one that he doesn't know where is headed.
Cadence had so much growth. At the beginning of this story, she a girl whose self-validation mainly depended on the physical connection with men. Her character growth was amazing. She developed into a strong independent woman finally learned her true worth by putting herself first even if when it meant she had to make the biggest sacrifice of her life.
Callum and Cadence took me on such an emotional journey where I was able to experience every feeling along with them. I loved witnessing their love story and transformation into the person they were really meant to be.
On top of all the emotions, this book was extremely hot. The chemistry and passion between Callum and Cadence was intense.
I absolutely loved this book and I know it is going to be one of my top re-reads.
**I received in ARC of this book, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.**
A FEW FAVORITE QUOTES:
"When I finally taste her mouth, my mind goes blank. I have no commitments or vows. I am nothing more than an extension of her."
"I don't want to take his life from him. He doesn't want to take mine from me. But at the moment, we can't live without each other."
Our love is not a sin; it's salvation."
Cadence and Callum were two lost souls. They were at a point in their lives where they seemed to have settled for the only version of themselves they thought existed. Their love story was raw and emotional. It was filled with angst, confusion, frustration and temptation. There was an unexplainable, strong pull between the two of them that they couldn't control.
I believe that when Cadence first arrived at the B&B, Callum was drawn to her because he was able to recognized the emptiness and insecurity that she tried to mask. He was able to see right through her and that made him wary and angry. Callum was at times cruel with his words striking right at the core of Cadence's insecurities. He infuriated me so much, but that's what made this story so captivating. He was struggling with his inner demons - trying to stay loyal to the world he has made himself believe his belongs to or sacrificing it all for one that he doesn't know where is headed.
Cadence had so much growth. At the beginning of this story, she a girl whose self-validation mainly depended on the physical connection with men. Her character growth was amazing. She developed into a strong independent woman finally learned her true worth by putting herself first even if when it meant she had to make the biggest sacrifice of her life.
Callum and Cadence took me on such an emotional journey where I was able to experience every feeling along with them. I loved witnessing their love story and transformation into the person they were really meant to be.
On top of all the emotions, this book was extremely hot. The chemistry and passion between Callum and Cadence was intense.
I absolutely loved this book and I know it is going to be one of my top re-reads.
**I received in ARC of this book, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.**
A FEW FAVORITE QUOTES:
"When I finally taste her mouth, my mind goes blank. I have no commitments or vows. I am nothing more than an extension of her."
"I don't want to take his life from him. He doesn't want to take mine from me. But at the moment, we can't live without each other."
Our love is not a sin; it's salvation."
June 23, 2022
Entering the Fleabag era again. This was a perfect read up until the baby fever in the last 20%.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2023
La verdad es que me ha gustado bastante, y sobre todo se aprecia claramente una evolución en los dos personajes a lo largo de la historia.
La ambientación no destaca mucho, pero el contexto es lo bastante sólido como para apreciar ese dilema en el que se encuentra, sobre todo, el protagonista masculino, quien creo que destaca más que ella.
Me hubiera gustado un desarrollo más profundo del entorno de ellos, por ejemplo que se hablase más de la hermana de él, o del pasado de la protagonista y cómo todo eso va influyendo en la relación.
Aun así, creo que es una historia muy bonita, que por mi parte no creo que sea ofensiva hacia ninguna religión o colectivo, y tiene un final cerrado y satisfactorio.
La ambientación no destaca mucho, pero el contexto es lo bastante sólido como para apreciar ese dilema en el que se encuentra, sobre todo, el protagonista masculino, quien creo que destaca más que ella.
Me hubiera gustado un desarrollo más profundo del entorno de ellos, por ejemplo que se hablase más de la hermana de él, o del pasado de la protagonista y cómo todo eso va influyendo en la relación.
Aun así, creo que es una historia muy bonita, que por mi parte no creo que sea ofensiva hacia ninguna religión o colectivo, y tiene un final cerrado y satisfactorio.
October 24, 2020
Oh my dayz. This is my first but definitely won’t be my last read by this author.
Cadence is running away and finds herself alone at an Irish B&B. Callum runs the B&B with his sister. He gets more than he ever dreamed possible when he allows her to stay.... but he’s a priest. He has made vows!!! Although I found Cadence to be quite immature I really liked her.
This was a super good read. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down.
Cadence is running away and finds herself alone at an Irish B&B. Callum runs the B&B with his sister. He gets more than he ever dreamed possible when he allows her to stay.... but he’s a priest. He has made vows!!! Although I found Cadence to be quite immature I really liked her.
This was a super good read. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down.
June 22, 2021
i liked it, i liked it a lot
July 23, 2023
Hot priest trope is seriously turning into an obsession, and with an age gap on top?! Hotttt
September 17, 2020
Full Review coming soon...
June 27, 2022
4 Stars
This was a taboo romance between a women who goes to Ireland for a vacation and the local priest. I really liked the steam but I wanted to see more form the priest.
This was a taboo romance between a women who goes to Ireland for a vacation and the local priest. I really liked the steam but I wanted to see more form the priest.
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