Forgive me father for I have sinned
Priest is a scandalous story about a young ordained catholic priest who has been upholding his vow to God for three years until temptation sat in his confession booth. There is sex, more sex, and definitely some blasphemy.
Tyler is a priest who shall not marry, who shall follow his God, and who shall guide his congregation. Tyler vowed his life to his religion three years ago following rules set by God, until she came.
Tyler wanted both lives—the life where he was a believer and priest and the life where he was man and woman. He asks himself this question, “Is it truly so terrible for a man of God to have sex?” Followed by his response: “Is it so wrong to want both? I wanted to lead this church, I wanted to help people find God. But dammit, I wanted Poppy too, and I didn’t think it was fair that I had to choose”. This is the premise of the story. With elements of guilt, shame, forgiveness, sin, and hope.
Here’s the issue, Tyler is still very much a man beneath the chasuble. He still has urges and carnal desires but not for three years, since being ordained. Tyler has shown restraint and trust to his parish both publicly and privately.
If there is one thing I remember about Catholics is their need for confessions. Confessions provide help and support from the priest. It’s not surprising that Father Bell is on the other side of the confession screen when she comes into his church, a non-Catholic seeking redemption from her sins.
This doesn’t get any more taboo or forbidden than an ordained priest taking vows of celibacy. After all, Tyler was twenty-six when he became ordained meaning he’s had years of sex prior to becoming a priest. He’s well educated in the woman’s body and the ways in which to bring them pleasure.
I must say Sierra has a natural ability at writing naughty, sexy, and deliciously dirty tales of the forbidden kind. The explicit details she provides places the reader in the scene. Sierra writes about controversial topics that skirt the moral high ground between right and wrong. It’s fun reading both positive and negative reviews in regards to this non-traditional forbidden love story between a priest and a non-catholic woman whose current career choice will scorn the priest.
It’s so intense. It’s so sexually graphic. Priest is seduction, sin, and sex all carved into one. The religious language and bible references were lost to me as a non-believer, so I skimmed those scenes.