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Beneath The Gaze of God
Father Cantrell
What is a man but his sins and his atonement?
Scared of the man he was, Father Cantrell abandons his past for the simple life of a priest. Free from temptation. Far from all that once controlled him. For years, he was content and at peace with the choices he made. At peace with the man he had become. Comfortable with himself and how far he has come, Father Cantrell takes up visiting the local dive bar on his free nights. One particular Saturday, he finds himself relieved from his usual responsibilities and decides to enjoy a quiet night at the bar.
Illias Koller
What is a man but his temper and his apology?
As a teenager, angry and bitter at the world, Illias puts as much distance between himself and the town that he never belonged in. For years, he lived as the man he always wanted to be. Free from judgement and able to live his truth. But in an attempt to mend his broken relationship with his family, he moves back to Dunwich in an attempt to reconnect. Mere weeks into being back in town, an ugly argument breaks out between himself and his step-father. Not wanting to escalate the situation, Illias leaves and seeks refuge at the bar he used to call home.
Two parallel lives that were never supposed to cross. But all it takes is one faithful life for their lives to intertwine. Unable to escape the pull of the other. Forced to the truths about themselves that they can no longer hide from.
What is a man but his sins and his atonement?
Scared of the man he was, Father Cantrell abandons his past for the simple life of a priest. Free from temptation. Far from all that once controlled him. For years, he was content and at peace with the choices he made. At peace with the man he had become. Comfortable with himself and how far he has come, Father Cantrell takes up visiting the local dive bar on his free nights. One particular Saturday, he finds himself relieved from his usual responsibilities and decides to enjoy a quiet night at the bar.
Illias Koller
What is a man but his temper and his apology?
As a teenager, angry and bitter at the world, Illias puts as much distance between himself and the town that he never belonged in. For years, he lived as the man he always wanted to be. Free from judgement and able to live his truth. But in an attempt to mend his broken relationship with his family, he moves back to Dunwich in an attempt to reconnect. Mere weeks into being back in town, an ugly argument breaks out between himself and his step-father. Not wanting to escalate the situation, Illias leaves and seeks refuge at the bar he used to call home.
Two parallel lives that were never supposed to cross. But all it takes is one faithful life for their lives to intertwine. Unable to escape the pull of the other. Forced to the truths about themselves that they can no longer hide from.
- GenresM M Romance
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2025
4 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
T. Rossmaur
2 books2 followersQueer indie author that writes erotic romances featuring queer characters getting their HEA.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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October 17, 2025Beta read
review closer to release date 🩷 but for whoever reads this: PREORDER IT RIGHT NOW!!!
review closer to release date 🩷 but for whoever reads this: PREORDER IT RIGHT NOW!!!
January 4, 2026
₊˚⊹ | 3 ★ read .ᐟ
This could've been a 4 star read just by the way it started, but I think I expected the spark between characters to hit better than it did. I also liked the way it was written, that was a clean writing in all aspects about the forbidden affair dynamic and the priest's temptation was honestly hot. It was easy to stay focused on it, I kept coming back wanting more, but I don't know, really. Didn't work for me, I guess.
This could've been a 4 star read just by the way it started, but I think I expected the spark between characters to hit better than it did. I also liked the way it was written, that was a clean writing in all aspects about the forbidden affair dynamic and the priest's temptation was honestly hot. It was easy to stay focused on it, I kept coming back wanting more, but I don't know, really. Didn't work for me, I guess.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
✨ ARC Review ✨
Okaaaay, esta fue mi primera vez leyendo algo relacionado con esta temática y fue… muy bueno, la verdad 🔥. Tengo que admitir que desde que vi al autor promocionar el libro, me llamó muchísimo la atención.
¿Qué pasa cuando unís a un sacerdote que lleva años intentando desesperadamente dejar atrás su pasado “indecoroso” con un joven bartender que acaba de regresar a su ciudad natal y es abiertamente gay? Esa es una muy buena pregunta, y este libro te sorprende con la respuesta guiño, guiño.
Cantrell e Illias me gustaron mucho como protagonistas. Siento que a Cantrell le faltó muy poquito para terminar de conquistarme del todo, pero Illias lo logró desde el primer momento en que apareció. Me encantó ver cómo su personaje se fue desarrollando a lo largo de la historia. Al principio pensé que iba a ser el típico chico gay que vuelve a su pueblo con todo resuelto, pero no: regresa cargando inseguridades y, en muchas ocasiones, se siente como un chico completamente perdido, lo que lo hizo mucho más real y fácil de querer.
El único “pero” que le pondría al arco de Illias es el cambio un poco brusco en su relación con su padrastro. Siento que ahí faltó un pequeño desarrollo extra para que la transición emocional no se sintiera tan repentina. Aun así, me gustó cómo Henry, su padrastro, termina ayudándolo y acompañándolo hacia el final.
Cantrell, como mencioné antes, me gustó, pero siento que a su personaje le faltó algo más. Durante gran parte de la historia se lo ve aferrado a su rol como fiel servidor de Dios, pero constantemente vuelve a sucumbir a sus deseos y a la oscuridad interna, lo que al principio resulta interesante y muy humano. Esa lucha entre lo que quiere ser y lo que realmente es le da profundidad, pero hacia el final se vuelve un poco repetitiva y pierde impacto.
El final de la historia se me hizo bastante abrupto, y por eso terminé bajándole una estrella. Me quedé con ganas de más: más momentos entre ellos, un epílogo, simplemente más 😭.
Aun así, disfruté muchísimo esta lectura y sin dudas volvería a leer algo de este autor. No es una historia para cualquiera, eso sí, pero definitivamente vale la pena.
〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️
Okaaay, this was my first time reading something like this and it was… really good 🔥 Not gonna lie, ever since I saw the author promoting it, I was instantly intrigued.
What happens when you put together a priest who’s spent years desperately trying to leave his “indecent” past behind and a young bartender who’s just moved back to his hometown and is openly gay? That’s a great question—and this book definitely delivers an answer wink wink.
I really liked Cantrell and Illias. Cantrell was so close to completely winning me over, but Illias did it from the very first moment. I loved watching his character grow throughout the story. At first, I thought he’d be the classic “gay guy who comes back home with everything figured out,” but nope—he returns still feeling lost and insecure at times, which made him feel very real and relatable.
My only small issue with Illias was the sudden shift in his relationship with his stepfather. I wish that part had been developed a little more so the emotional change didn’t feel so abrupt. Still, I really liked how Henry ends up supporting Illias by the end.
As for Cantrell, I liked him, but I felt like something was missing. His internal struggle between being a devoted servant of God and constantly giving in to his desires was interesting at first and added depth to his character. However, toward the end it started to feel a bit repetitive.
The ending felt rushed, and that’s why I ended up dropping a star. I wanted more of them together, an epilogue… just more 😭.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’d definitely read more from this author. It’s not for everyone, but it’s absolutely worth checking out.
Okaaaay, esta fue mi primera vez leyendo algo relacionado con esta temática y fue… muy bueno, la verdad 🔥. Tengo que admitir que desde que vi al autor promocionar el libro, me llamó muchísimo la atención.
¿Qué pasa cuando unís a un sacerdote que lleva años intentando desesperadamente dejar atrás su pasado “indecoroso” con un joven bartender que acaba de regresar a su ciudad natal y es abiertamente gay? Esa es una muy buena pregunta, y este libro te sorprende con la respuesta guiño, guiño.
Cantrell e Illias me gustaron mucho como protagonistas. Siento que a Cantrell le faltó muy poquito para terminar de conquistarme del todo, pero Illias lo logró desde el primer momento en que apareció. Me encantó ver cómo su personaje se fue desarrollando a lo largo de la historia. Al principio pensé que iba a ser el típico chico gay que vuelve a su pueblo con todo resuelto, pero no: regresa cargando inseguridades y, en muchas ocasiones, se siente como un chico completamente perdido, lo que lo hizo mucho más real y fácil de querer.
El único “pero” que le pondría al arco de Illias es el cambio un poco brusco en su relación con su padrastro. Siento que ahí faltó un pequeño desarrollo extra para que la transición emocional no se sintiera tan repentina. Aun así, me gustó cómo Henry, su padrastro, termina ayudándolo y acompañándolo hacia el final.
Cantrell, como mencioné antes, me gustó, pero siento que a su personaje le faltó algo más. Durante gran parte de la historia se lo ve aferrado a su rol como fiel servidor de Dios, pero constantemente vuelve a sucumbir a sus deseos y a la oscuridad interna, lo que al principio resulta interesante y muy humano. Esa lucha entre lo que quiere ser y lo que realmente es le da profundidad, pero hacia el final se vuelve un poco repetitiva y pierde impacto.
El final de la historia se me hizo bastante abrupto, y por eso terminé bajándole una estrella. Me quedé con ganas de más: más momentos entre ellos, un epílogo, simplemente más 😭.
Aun así, disfruté muchísimo esta lectura y sin dudas volvería a leer algo de este autor. No es una historia para cualquiera, eso sí, pero definitivamente vale la pena.
〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️
Okaaay, this was my first time reading something like this and it was… really good 🔥 Not gonna lie, ever since I saw the author promoting it, I was instantly intrigued.
What happens when you put together a priest who’s spent years desperately trying to leave his “indecent” past behind and a young bartender who’s just moved back to his hometown and is openly gay? That’s a great question—and this book definitely delivers an answer wink wink.
I really liked Cantrell and Illias. Cantrell was so close to completely winning me over, but Illias did it from the very first moment. I loved watching his character grow throughout the story. At first, I thought he’d be the classic “gay guy who comes back home with everything figured out,” but nope—he returns still feeling lost and insecure at times, which made him feel very real and relatable.
My only small issue with Illias was the sudden shift in his relationship with his stepfather. I wish that part had been developed a little more so the emotional change didn’t feel so abrupt. Still, I really liked how Henry ends up supporting Illias by the end.
As for Cantrell, I liked him, but I felt like something was missing. His internal struggle between being a devoted servant of God and constantly giving in to his desires was interesting at first and added depth to his character. However, toward the end it started to feel a bit repetitive.
The ending felt rushed, and that’s why I ended up dropping a star. I wanted more of them together, an epilogue… just more 😭.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’d definitely read more from this author. It’s not for everyone, but it’s absolutely worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ ARC Review ✨
This is T Rossmaur's debut novel, and I think it's a beautiful debut! The characters were intriguing and the tension between both Cantrell & Illias was veryyyy well done, and made the slow burn vibe of this book feel not as drawn out 🔥.
I will say, I wish there was more backstory to some things like Cantrell's past relationships and WHY he chose to be a priest because of these failures. But overall, the story is well done, the characters are realistic based on their individual characteristics.. yes there is some inner floundering on Cantrell's parts but I understood that since he is a priest falling for Illias despite all of his vows 😈.
All in all, this story was good and spicy 🥵, the scenes between Cantrell & Illias are sooo good, if a bit unconventional at times and I was here for it 🔥🫠. The ending felt a bit rushed but considering this is the authors debut I am pleased with how it all went down 🥰.
If you love some serious pining, forbidden vibes between a priest and his parishioner, very hot scenes involving a confessional booth and some Dom/sub vibes then definitely give this book a shot!
This is T Rossmaur's debut novel, and I think it's a beautiful debut! The characters were intriguing and the tension between both Cantrell & Illias was veryyyy well done, and made the slow burn vibe of this book feel not as drawn out 🔥.
I will say, I wish there was more backstory to some things like Cantrell's past relationships and WHY he chose to be a priest because of these failures. But overall, the story is well done, the characters are realistic based on their individual characteristics.. yes there is some inner floundering on Cantrell's parts but I understood that since he is a priest falling for Illias despite all of his vows 😈.
All in all, this story was good and spicy 🥵, the scenes between Cantrell & Illias are sooo good, if a bit unconventional at times and I was here for it 🔥🫠. The ending felt a bit rushed but considering this is the authors debut I am pleased with how it all went down 🥰.
If you love some serious pining, forbidden vibes between a priest and his parishioner, very hot scenes involving a confessional booth and some Dom/sub vibes then definitely give this book a shot!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an ARC review. The ARC was provided by the author.
As some people might already know, I'm a sucker for this kind of story, and with "this kind of story" I mean a priest being faced with temptation and struggling to keep his vows while being horny. Especially when it includes kinky stuff.
I just can't resist.
So, this book was straight (or gay) up my lane and I very much enjoyed it. It was a fast read, had a good amount of spice and although there where places where there was still room for improvement or further development, I'd recommend this little work to those who enjoy age-gap romances, kinky priests, and unapologetically flirty LIs (Illias reminded me of Malacandrax' Cliff, iykyk).
I loved the dynamic between Cantrell and Illias from the start, but I felt really sorry for both of them at times. Because of obvious reasons.
So, there you go! Get your daily dose of priestly depravity with this story. :D
As some people might already know, I'm a sucker for this kind of story, and with "this kind of story" I mean a priest being faced with temptation and struggling to keep his vows while being horny. Especially when it includes kinky stuff.
I just can't resist.
So, this book was straight (or gay) up my lane and I very much enjoyed it. It was a fast read, had a good amount of spice and although there where places where there was still room for improvement or further development, I'd recommend this little work to those who enjoy age-gap romances, kinky priests, and unapologetically flirty LIs (Illias reminded me of Malacandrax' Cliff, iykyk).
I loved the dynamic between Cantrell and Illias from the start, but I felt really sorry for both of them at times. Because of obvious reasons.
So, there you go! Get your daily dose of priestly depravity with this story. :D
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an ARC copy sent to me by the author, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
Who doesn’t enjoy forbidden love? One of my all time favourites are Priests. This story follows Ilias, a barman, who is easy going and flirts his way through life, and Cantrell, a man who found priesthood after a downward spiral of lust and greed.
From first sight these two are obsessed. Neither can leave the other alone for long, and eventually Cantrell gives in.
This story includes a D/s dynamic, and a “no strings attached” relationship (which is very quickly ended when jealousy rears its head for BOTH characters.) The added “Will we get caught” will always be peak for me.
Both men have their own battles to fight, and while they listen to one another, neither “fixes” the other’s problems for them, which is refreshing.
I enjoyed these two a lot, and I’m excited to see what else the author will bring in 2026.
Who doesn’t enjoy forbidden love? One of my all time favourites are Priests. This story follows Ilias, a barman, who is easy going and flirts his way through life, and Cantrell, a man who found priesthood after a downward spiral of lust and greed.
From first sight these two are obsessed. Neither can leave the other alone for long, and eventually Cantrell gives in.
This story includes a D/s dynamic, and a “no strings attached” relationship (which is very quickly ended when jealousy rears its head for BOTH characters.) The added “Will we get caught” will always be peak for me.
Both men have their own battles to fight, and while they listen to one another, neither “fixes” the other’s problems for them, which is refreshing.
I enjoyed these two a lot, and I’m excited to see what else the author will bring in 2026.
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January 10, 2026I received an ARC and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Forgive me father, for this book is going to make me sin so bad.
I’ve been anticipating this book for a while and it did not disappoint – it’s got so much of what I’ve been looking for and it delivered it with such gorgeous prose and heart-aching hunger and longing at nearly every turn of the page. Father Cantrell is such a sexy silver fox and Illias is as cheeky and bratty as I was hoping he would be – and their tension was downright intoxicating. Their scenes together were scorching hot.
This book is a mix of tender and messy, and it’s such a treat for anyone who enjoys a good ol’ age gap, dom/sub relationship, with a dash of will they/won’t they. Their push and pull, and especially Cantrell’s whole internal conflict, kept me flipping those pages. It made the payoff so much more satisfying in the end. What a great book to finish the year on!
Forgive me father, for this book is going to make me sin so bad.
I’ve been anticipating this book for a while and it did not disappoint – it’s got so much of what I’ve been looking for and it delivered it with such gorgeous prose and heart-aching hunger and longing at nearly every turn of the page. Father Cantrell is such a sexy silver fox and Illias is as cheeky and bratty as I was hoping he would be – and their tension was downright intoxicating. Their scenes together were scorching hot.
This book is a mix of tender and messy, and it’s such a treat for anyone who enjoys a good ol’ age gap, dom/sub relationship, with a dash of will they/won’t they. Their push and pull, and especially Cantrell’s whole internal conflict, kept me flipping those pages. It made the payoff so much more satisfying in the end. What a great book to finish the year on!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Despite this story beeing very heavy on religion, which is something I don't enjoy in books very often, the story was truly good. It had very interesting plot and that forbidden part was delicious. There was chemistry between Cantrell and Illias from the start, and the emotional slow burn between them was well done. And those spicy scenes? They were as hot as hell fires we will all feel for reading it 😈
What this story lacked, was a bit of development in a few places. But I don't mean it in a bad way, just a little bit of background here and there would be good. For example, the relationship that Illias had with his stepfather could use more backstory, and the fact, that his former best friend, kind of came out of nowhere, and they instantly became best friends again was a bit confusing.
But let's get back to the good parts again. The ending? That was perfect. And I really enjoyed that last interaction with Father Rier, that scene was chef kiss 😁
Everyone should get this story a chance! and I will definitely be checking the author's future books.
What this story lacked, was a bit of development in a few places. But I don't mean it in a bad way, just a little bit of background here and there would be good. For example, the relationship that Illias had with his stepfather could use more backstory, and the fact, that his former best friend, kind of came out of nowhere, and they instantly became best friends again was a bit confusing.
But let's get back to the good parts again. The ending? That was perfect. And I really enjoyed that last interaction with Father Rier, that scene was chef kiss 😁
Everyone should get this story a chance! and I will definitely be checking the author's future books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2025
Beneath the gaze of god was another easy five stars for me! I liked the slow burn and the way that there was still spice and sexy time outside of Penetrative activity that is something new and welcome for me. I loved the way there was a build up in their dynamic and the tension made their giving in all the more satisfying! The HEA was great for me from the way it unfolded to the epilogue scene 🥵BTGoG has been an enjoyable time well spent read. Highly recommend this book for those of us that have a little Priest Kink or a thing for older men 😉
Features;
🔔Tempted Priest MMC
🛐 Spicy Misuse of Confession
🍑Family Angst & Healing
☀️Small Town Setting
Features;
🔔Tempted Priest MMC
🛐 Spicy Misuse of Confession
🍑Family Angst & Healing
☀️Small Town Setting
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wanted this to work so much. And really it had the bones of something that I would adore, and the execution just didn't work for me personally. I felt like each POV led to a personality shift and there were some things that weren't *quite* continuity errors, but felt like them.
As so you can see, this is a mostly vibes based thing so I'll still urge others to take a chance on this one if it looks interesting to them. So far, I'm the only one with this type of review, so it absolutely could be a me thing!
As so you can see, this is a mostly vibes based thing so I'll still urge others to take a chance on this one if it looks interesting to them. So far, I'm the only one with this type of review, so it absolutely could be a me thing!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Unfortunately this story wasn’t quite for me. While I can appreciate the appeal and why the forbidden aspect works for some readers, the romance didn’t fully click for me personally, and the pacing seemed a little off.
I am still glad the author gave me the chance to ARC read it, and I’d definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy this particular trope and style, as I am sure this might, very well be personal preference.
I received an ARC from the author but the opinions expressed are my own.
I am still glad the author gave me the chance to ARC read it, and I’d definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy this particular trope and style, as I am sure this might, very well be personal preference.
I received an ARC from the author but the opinions expressed are my own.
December 1, 2025
ARC REVIEW: 4.5
m/m romance, repressed priest x thirsty bartender with issues, slow burn with plenty of tense moments, religious imagery paired with repression and reawakening, but also healing and coming to terms with trauma... some of the scenes... !! clutching the rosary ong
m/m romance, repressed priest x thirsty bartender with issues, slow burn with plenty of tense moments, religious imagery paired with repression and reawakening, but also healing and coming to terms with trauma... some of the scenes... !! clutching the rosary ong
Review of advance copy received from Author
These two are a match made in (spite of) heaven. I was immediately invested in their dynamic. Illias reawakens the fire in Cantrell while Cantrell gives Illias the space to be vulnerable. I especially liked how their story confronts weaponized faith to make room for queer joy.
Thanks so much to the author for a chance to check out an advance copy. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
Thanks so much to the author for a chance to check out an advance copy. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
January 1, 2026
I'm absolutely here for a tempting-the-priest story, and the sex-related scenes throughout were fun. However, the rest of the book didn't really work for me: issues relating to Cantrell's job and Illias's family, the actual romantic relationship, and the way things were resolved at the end.
January 10, 2026
Good debut book. Some beautiful moments through and I loved Illias's character. Plot felt a little rushed and I felt the spice could have been more intense. One of my favourite tropes :)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews