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Saints and Sinners: A Second-Chance Forbidden Romance of Faith and Desire
Eight years ago, grief drove Damian Bellucci to the priesthood. Now, the woman he left behind is threatening the life he thought he wanted.
After his brother’s death, Damian buried his pain beneath priestly vows, convincing himself that devotion could drown desire. But when his high school sweetheart, Claire Vergara, returns to his parish as a teacher, the temptation to break his promises to God grows stronger with every glance, every breath. They call him a saint, yet she makes him crave sin. He believed his faith was unshakable—but Claire brings out the unholy in him, and he isn’t sure how much longer he can fight it.
Before tragedy tore them apart, Claire loved Damian Bellucci with a devotion that rivaled her faith. Now, as a nun serving at his parish, she’s struggling to keep her own vows intact while resisting an attraction that feels more sacred than sinful. She took the veil to escape her demons, but the heart never forgets what it once worshipped. Every moment near him reminds her that some desires run deeper than duty.
They sought salvation in sacred vows—only to find it in their forbidden love.
This novel contains mature themes and is intended for adult readers.
Perfect for readers who love forbidden romance with emotional depth, including Priest by Sierra Simone, The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer, and Mercy by Debra Anastasia.
🔥 Tropes &
• Priest × Nun Romance
• Forbidden Love
• Second-Chance Romance
• Emotional Slow Burn
• Healing from Religious Trauma
• Faith vs Desire
• Star-Crossed Lovers
After his brother’s death, Damian buried his pain beneath priestly vows, convincing himself that devotion could drown desire. But when his high school sweetheart, Claire Vergara, returns to his parish as a teacher, the temptation to break his promises to God grows stronger with every glance, every breath. They call him a saint, yet she makes him crave sin. He believed his faith was unshakable—but Claire brings out the unholy in him, and he isn’t sure how much longer he can fight it.
Before tragedy tore them apart, Claire loved Damian Bellucci with a devotion that rivaled her faith. Now, as a nun serving at his parish, she’s struggling to keep her own vows intact while resisting an attraction that feels more sacred than sinful. She took the veil to escape her demons, but the heart never forgets what it once worshipped. Every moment near him reminds her that some desires run deeper than duty.
They sought salvation in sacred vows—only to find it in their forbidden love.
This novel contains mature themes and is intended for adult readers.
Perfect for readers who love forbidden romance with emotional depth, including Priest by Sierra Simone, The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer, and Mercy by Debra Anastasia.
🔥 Tropes &
• Priest × Nun Romance
• Forbidden Love
• Second-Chance Romance
• Emotional Slow Burn
• Healing from Religious Trauma
• Faith vs Desire
• Star-Crossed Lovers
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2026
5 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Green
6 books67 followersAlyssa is a US Navy veteran with a degree in psychology. She’s a multifaceted person who enjoys a variety of activities. When she’s not writing or reading, she can be found editing for clients, traveling the United States with her husband and dog, Fiona, or hiking and exploring the outdoors. She’s also a lifelong learner who has been taking classes through the Editorial Freelancers Association to improve her skills as a freelance editor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 11, 2026
Thank you to Alyssa Green for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I struggled with Claire and Damian’s dynamic throughout this book.
Damian felt largely unchanged from beginning to end. He was consistently dismissive of Claire’s choices and emotions and that imbalance carried through the entire story. There is only one moment that truly shined for me where Claire takes control of the narrative, and I found myself wishing she’d been given more agency overall.
Individually, the motivations for growth, commitment and compromise relied on the same repeated reasoning. While these motivations stem from impactful, life-altering experiences and are understandable, their constant repetition gradually dulled their emotional weight. Although this repetition created emotional angst among the cast, it often felt unnecessary.
Claire initially stood out as a strong protagonist and the emotional anchor of the narrative. Her desire to do better for herself felt far more present and compelling than Damian’s. That said, I was frequently disappointed by her lapses in judgment as the story progressed, though this does tie into one of the book’s central themes: judgment itself.
Where the novel truly shines is in its portrayal of religion and the weight of religious judgment. Alyssa Green does an excellent job capturing the pressure, constant self-doubt, fear of being perceived as inadequate and the anxiety of failing one’s faith. That emotional tension felt authentic and thoughtfully explored.
"Maybe...being able to breathe without feeling like I'm failing everyone. Being able to make mistakes without hating myself. Existing without having to be perfect." - Claire
Overall, Saints and Sinners presents strong themes and depicts religion in a raw and honest way. Interwoven with this is a journey of self-discovery and God’s love, portrayed in a way that is both compelling and beautiful.
I struggled with Claire and Damian’s dynamic throughout this book.
Damian felt largely unchanged from beginning to end. He was consistently dismissive of Claire’s choices and emotions and that imbalance carried through the entire story. There is only one moment that truly shined for me where Claire takes control of the narrative, and I found myself wishing she’d been given more agency overall.
Individually, the motivations for growth, commitment and compromise relied on the same repeated reasoning. While these motivations stem from impactful, life-altering experiences and are understandable, their constant repetition gradually dulled their emotional weight. Although this repetition created emotional angst among the cast, it often felt unnecessary.
Claire initially stood out as a strong protagonist and the emotional anchor of the narrative. Her desire to do better for herself felt far more present and compelling than Damian’s. That said, I was frequently disappointed by her lapses in judgment as the story progressed, though this does tie into one of the book’s central themes: judgment itself.
Where the novel truly shines is in its portrayal of religion and the weight of religious judgment. Alyssa Green does an excellent job capturing the pressure, constant self-doubt, fear of being perceived as inadequate and the anxiety of failing one’s faith. That emotional tension felt authentic and thoughtfully explored.
"Maybe...being able to breathe without feeling like I'm failing everyone. Being able to make mistakes without hating myself. Existing without having to be perfect." - Claire
Overall, Saints and Sinners presents strong themes and depicts religion in a raw and honest way. Interwoven with this is a journey of self-discovery and God’s love, portrayed in a way that is both compelling and beautiful.
January 10, 2026
I want to start this review off by saying this book was so wonderfully written. The authors words flowed so beautifully and I felt like I was there in the story.
Both Claire and Damian were very likeable, each dealing with the same grief and internal conflicts. I thought there was great character development from start to finish and I really felt their emotional struggles.
I am a fan of the book “Priest” by Sierra Simone which is what led me to wanting to read this book. “Saints and Sinners” had more of a spiritual and emotional pull and less (although still a few chapters worth of) spicy scenes.
I went to catholic school growing up so I resonated with the religious context but towards the middle it became very preachy. Not necessarily a bad thing because it was pertinent to the development and understanding of the MMC and FMC.
Thank you Alyssa for giving me the opportunity to read “Saints and Sinners” for my first ever ARC read!
Both Claire and Damian were very likeable, each dealing with the same grief and internal conflicts. I thought there was great character development from start to finish and I really felt their emotional struggles.
I am a fan of the book “Priest” by Sierra Simone which is what led me to wanting to read this book. “Saints and Sinners” had more of a spiritual and emotional pull and less (although still a few chapters worth of) spicy scenes.
I went to catholic school growing up so I resonated with the religious context but towards the middle it became very preachy. Not necessarily a bad thing because it was pertinent to the development and understanding of the MMC and FMC.
Thank you Alyssa for giving me the opportunity to read “Saints and Sinners” for my first ever ARC read!
January 12, 2026
This novel is beautifully written. Alyssa has an incredible turn of phrase and you get lost in the characters easily. The connection between Damian and Claire is incredible and heart wrenching.
As someone who is against organized religion, it was a tough read at times and effected me more than I thought it would. However, Alyssa manages to bring the light and positivity from a difficult area of life and makes everything seem so life like and truthful.
The struggles of the characters are so personal and it's amazing watching them transform and become who they are. Gorgeously written Alyssa, and thank you for letting me be a part of the ARC team!
As someone who is against organized religion, it was a tough read at times and effected me more than I thought it would. However, Alyssa manages to bring the light and positivity from a difficult area of life and makes everything seem so life like and truthful.
The struggles of the characters are so personal and it's amazing watching them transform and become who they are. Gorgeously written Alyssa, and thank you for letting me be a part of the ARC team!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review Saints and sinners - Alyssa Green (arc)
When his brother Rico dies in a car accident, Damian has taken his place to become a priest. The book starts with the moment he ends his relationship with Claire.
Next is 8 years later. A new director of religious education is appointed and sent over to the church. Turns out that new director is Claire.
Claire starts cutting herself when her church sends her sister Tina away after she comes out as lesbian. One night at the hospital, when she feels like she can't handle it anymore, she meets sister Agnes who helps her seek guidance with God. After three years, she has to make a choice: become a nun or walk away from it all and she decided to become a nun.
But her feelings for Damian haven't gone away over the years. When they meet again, that spark is still there. Damian also struggles with his feelings for Claire. But they can't do anything about it, since they've given their lives to God. What will they choose, faith or desire?
You feel the struggle through the pages and I could sympathize with both of them. The story is descriptive and I could sometimes see myself walking through the church with them. I really liked the different points of view from Damian and Claire and although this is a very raw story with some pretty triggering scenes, Alyssa did a wonderful job writing a love story about two people who are torn between faith and desire. I also want to thank this writer for the trigger warnings which are very important to me. Your mental health should always come first.
I did find the chapters a bit long, which made my mind wander off sometimes, but over all: a great story if you like an emotional slow burn of a priest and nun who both have had their share of trouble in life. Oh and a nun on a skateboard?! Awesome.
When his brother Rico dies in a car accident, Damian has taken his place to become a priest. The book starts with the moment he ends his relationship with Claire.
Next is 8 years later. A new director of religious education is appointed and sent over to the church. Turns out that new director is Claire.
Claire starts cutting herself when her church sends her sister Tina away after she comes out as lesbian. One night at the hospital, when she feels like she can't handle it anymore, she meets sister Agnes who helps her seek guidance with God. After three years, she has to make a choice: become a nun or walk away from it all and she decided to become a nun.
But her feelings for Damian haven't gone away over the years. When they meet again, that spark is still there. Damian also struggles with his feelings for Claire. But they can't do anything about it, since they've given their lives to God. What will they choose, faith or desire?
You feel the struggle through the pages and I could sympathize with both of them. The story is descriptive and I could sometimes see myself walking through the church with them. I really liked the different points of view from Damian and Claire and although this is a very raw story with some pretty triggering scenes, Alyssa did a wonderful job writing a love story about two people who are torn between faith and desire. I also want to thank this writer for the trigger warnings which are very important to me. Your mental health should always come first.
I did find the chapters a bit long, which made my mind wander off sometimes, but over all: a great story if you like an emotional slow burn of a priest and nun who both have had their share of trouble in life. Oh and a nun on a skateboard?! Awesome.
January 7, 2026
”Forgive me Father. I have sinned” 😮💨
~ ARC review ~
When i saw the arc sign up for this, it reminded me of Priest and i was intrigued.
There is a history between the two main characters, but they went their separate ways after a painful life event. Eventually they both choose a life of faith. Damian as a priest, Claire as a nun. They end up working at the same church years later and thats where the story starts.
Their chemistry is undeniable and i loved it. I’m really glad i got this ARC because i ate it up!
I love how this book handled grief, losing / finding your way, but also showed inclusivity.
It did have a lot of religious references, which i had to google at times, but who doesn’t love a forbidden religious romance 🔥
~ ARC review ~
When i saw the arc sign up for this, it reminded me of Priest and i was intrigued.
There is a history between the two main characters, but they went their separate ways after a painful life event. Eventually they both choose a life of faith. Damian as a priest, Claire as a nun. They end up working at the same church years later and thats where the story starts.
Their chemistry is undeniable and i loved it. I’m really glad i got this ARC because i ate it up!
I love how this book handled grief, losing / finding your way, but also showed inclusivity.
It did have a lot of religious references, which i had to google at times, but who doesn’t love a forbidden religious romance 🔥
January 14, 2026
Okayyyy so -
We have a priest x nun romance
They were high school sweethearts and after a tragedy they broke up. They both lost their way and turned to the church
8 years later they are both assigned to the same parish and the old flame lit right back up
In all honesty, this book isn’t for everyone - in my opinion, it will probably be due to how heavily religious the entire story is.
I enjoyed it regardless - the inner turmoil with both characters and the tension prevented me from putting this book down 🤣
There was just something missing that I cant put my finger on…
If you can put all the religious stuff aside, give this book a try
We have a priest x nun romance
They were high school sweethearts and after a tragedy they broke up. They both lost their way and turned to the church
8 years later they are both assigned to the same parish and the old flame lit right back up
In all honesty, this book isn’t for everyone - in my opinion, it will probably be due to how heavily religious the entire story is.
I enjoyed it regardless - the inner turmoil with both characters and the tension prevented me from putting this book down 🤣
There was just something missing that I cant put my finger on…
If you can put all the religious stuff aside, give this book a try
March 2, 2026
Arc review 3.5 Saint and sinners arc review: This story follows Claire and Damian, eight years has passed since Damian brother passes away and since him Claire ended their relationship. Fast forward eight years and Damian is a priest and Claire is now a nun and they can’t cross that boundary toward each other due to their power within the church. I feel like the interpretation of feeling trapped into a religion felt real and the internal struggles the characters were facing, it was strong and powerful. At times the chapters felt too long but overall a powerful read if you ever been through religious turmoil and grief that over takes you.
January 10, 2026
3.5/4 ⭐️
ARC Review:
I can’t quite decide on the rating because as much as I enjoyed the story I also struggled with it.
We follow Damien and Claire who have gone through a tragedy that changes their whole trajectory in life. With all the grief they endured, both eventually turn to god and serve him. But as they are brought back together and feelings resurface is faith enough?
This story is a slow burn filled with angst, sadness, fear and guilt. It gives a beautiful perspective on faith and how there is struggle within the church.
I think I struggled with this book because I’ve personally questioned the church and the system. It hit to close to home but made me think about certain things in a new light. The story kept me interested to keep going and finish.
ARC Review:
I can’t quite decide on the rating because as much as I enjoyed the story I also struggled with it.
We follow Damien and Claire who have gone through a tragedy that changes their whole trajectory in life. With all the grief they endured, both eventually turn to god and serve him. But as they are brought back together and feelings resurface is faith enough?
This story is a slow burn filled with angst, sadness, fear and guilt. It gives a beautiful perspective on faith and how there is struggle within the church.
I think I struggled with this book because I’ve personally questioned the church and the system. It hit to close to home but made me think about certain things in a new light. The story kept me interested to keep going and finish.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Saints and Sinners
Written By: Alyssa Green
Releases on February 24, 2026.
Tropes:
🩷Second Chance Romance
🩷Found Forgiveness
🩷Religion Heavy Content
🩷Tension to Slow Burn
🩷Miscommunication Trope
Thank you to Alyssa Green for providing me with an Advanced Copy to review! All opinions in this review are my own.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating:🌶
* My rating breakdown is included at the end of this review.
When I first saw Alyssa Green’s post regarding this book and her search for ARC Readers, I was immediately applying. With the promise of a dark, taboo standalone romance between a priest and nun, in a religious setting, I was expecting more spice, less religion, and more romance. Instead I found a second chance romance with characters who had miscommunication since their first breakup and had a chance to ignore their guilt by joining the church.
What follows is us following them as their careers in the religious community grow and they both teach others and youth of the vows of God. We get to see them question and study further into their faith and God’s teaching as they realize they can’t stay away from each other. It felt as if the story was designed as a novel to draw more people into the faith over a dark, romance story.
* The second read was the Bonus Chapter included at the end of the book, not a full read of the story again.
My Book Rating System
⭐️ means it was a DNF.
⭐️⭐️ means I should have chosen to DNF.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ means it was okay. I will not read this again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ means it was good. I will probably read this again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ means it was amazing. I am obsessed!
My Spice Rating System
🫑 means no spice.
🌶 means it has closed door or implied spice.
🌶🌶 means it has open door scenes but they're more on the vanilla side.
🌶🌶🌶 means it has descriptive scenes, starting to get kinker in description.
🌶🌶🌶🌶 means it has numerous scenes in the books and lots of description.
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 means that we aren't reading it for the plot anyways.
* Please note that I will not add my Spice Rating Scale on any book reviews that are meant for young children or middle grade ages.
* A Green Pepper or 1 Pepper may appear on books classified as Young Adult.
Written By: Alyssa Green
Releases on February 24, 2026.
Tropes:
🩷Second Chance Romance
🩷Found Forgiveness
🩷Religion Heavy Content
🩷Tension to Slow Burn
🩷Miscommunication Trope
Thank you to Alyssa Green for providing me with an Advanced Copy to review! All opinions in this review are my own.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating:🌶
* My rating breakdown is included at the end of this review.
When I first saw Alyssa Green’s post regarding this book and her search for ARC Readers, I was immediately applying. With the promise of a dark, taboo standalone romance between a priest and nun, in a religious setting, I was expecting more spice, less religion, and more romance. Instead I found a second chance romance with characters who had miscommunication since their first breakup and had a chance to ignore their guilt by joining the church.
What follows is us following them as their careers in the religious community grow and they both teach others and youth of the vows of God. We get to see them question and study further into their faith and God’s teaching as they realize they can’t stay away from each other. It felt as if the story was designed as a novel to draw more people into the faith over a dark, romance story.
* The second read was the Bonus Chapter included at the end of the book, not a full read of the story again.
My Book Rating System
⭐️ means it was a DNF.
⭐️⭐️ means I should have chosen to DNF.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ means it was okay. I will not read this again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ means it was good. I will probably read this again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ means it was amazing. I am obsessed!
My Spice Rating System
🫑 means no spice.
🌶 means it has closed door or implied spice.
🌶🌶 means it has open door scenes but they're more on the vanilla side.
🌶🌶🌶 means it has descriptive scenes, starting to get kinker in description.
🌶🌶🌶🌶 means it has numerous scenes in the books and lots of description.
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 means that we aren't reading it for the plot anyways.
* Please note that I will not add my Spice Rating Scale on any book reviews that are meant for young children or middle grade ages.
* A Green Pepper or 1 Pepper may appear on books classified as Young Adult.
January 10, 2026
I went into Saints and Sinners knowing it would be angsty, forbidden, and emotionally heavy—but I was not prepared for how deeply this story would sink into my chest and stay there. This book is aching, beautiful, and unapologetically intense.
Damian Bellucci is the kind of hero who hurts just by existing. A man who ran to the priesthood out of grief, convinced that faith could silence his pain and erase the life he lost. And then Claire walks back into his world and everything he buried starts screaming to be felt again. The way his internal struggle is written? Perfection. The guilt. The longing. The desperate need to be good while craving something that feels sinful and sacred all at once.
And Claire… oh Claire. Her devotion, her heartbreak, her strength—it all felt so real. She didn’t take the veil lightly, and that made her conflict even more devastating. The love she and Damian shared wasn’t shallow or fleeting. It was rooted. Deep. Enduring. The kind of love that doesn’t disappear just because time and tragedy try to erase it.
The tension between them is unreal. Every look, every stolen moment, every almost-touch had me holding my breath. This is a true slow burn, and it hurts so good. Their love felt forbidden, yes—but also inevitable. Like something written long before vows were ever taken.
What really stood out to me was how this book handled faith and religious trauma. It didn’t mock belief or cheapen it—it showed how complicated it can be when devotion and desire collide. The emotional depth here is incredible, and the healing journey felt earned, not rushed.
This story isn’t about shock value. It’s about love that refuses to die, about choosing yourself after years of self-denial, and about finding salvation in the place you were told you never could.
Heartbreaking. Tender. Intense. Saints and Sinners is a forbidden romance done RIGHT, and I will be thinking about Damian and Claire for a very long time. Highly recommend if you love pain, passion, and stories that leave scars in the best way. ❤️🔥📖
Damian Bellucci is the kind of hero who hurts just by existing. A man who ran to the priesthood out of grief, convinced that faith could silence his pain and erase the life he lost. And then Claire walks back into his world and everything he buried starts screaming to be felt again. The way his internal struggle is written? Perfection. The guilt. The longing. The desperate need to be good while craving something that feels sinful and sacred all at once.
And Claire… oh Claire. Her devotion, her heartbreak, her strength—it all felt so real. She didn’t take the veil lightly, and that made her conflict even more devastating. The love she and Damian shared wasn’t shallow or fleeting. It was rooted. Deep. Enduring. The kind of love that doesn’t disappear just because time and tragedy try to erase it.
The tension between them is unreal. Every look, every stolen moment, every almost-touch had me holding my breath. This is a true slow burn, and it hurts so good. Their love felt forbidden, yes—but also inevitable. Like something written long before vows were ever taken.
What really stood out to me was how this book handled faith and religious trauma. It didn’t mock belief or cheapen it—it showed how complicated it can be when devotion and desire collide. The emotional depth here is incredible, and the healing journey felt earned, not rushed.
This story isn’t about shock value. It’s about love that refuses to die, about choosing yourself after years of self-denial, and about finding salvation in the place you were told you never could.
Heartbreaking. Tender. Intense. Saints and Sinners is a forbidden romance done RIGHT, and I will be thinking about Damian and Claire for a very long time. Highly recommend if you love pain, passion, and stories that leave scars in the best way. ❤️🔥📖
January 17, 2026
How does the joke go? A priest and a nun walk into a confessional… except they don’t quite walk in 👀
This book really highlights the emotional chokehold that grief, guilt and regret can have on someone. To the point that they would bend over backwards to avoid facing those difficult emotions and walk a path they guilt trip themselves into. This is what happens for Damien when a tragic event that happens in his young adulthood leads him to alter his life and finding the priesthood 7/8-years after the event.
Only, he is soon reunited with his high school sweetheart and now Nun, Clair, when she is placed at his church. Clair is tackling her own challenges including the weight of others expectations of her as well as what it means to want to be a progressive nun within a traditional catholic community at Saint Anthony’s.
Damian and Clair struggle with their feelings for one another and what this means regarding their vows and relationships with God. Their story follows how they move through this and the internal conflict they experience as they wrestle with not only current emotions but those from the past.
The religious guilt is very strong in this story and the catholic faith has a heavy presence - to the point I had to check some of the words/meanings. That being said, the way this is reconciled in the story is well done and it’s a part of the storytelling. I felt that the break from traditional church values was also nice to read for example Clair’s sister Jasmine and Jasmine’s wife Rhea being welcomed into church.
Overall Clair is the standout character for me in regard to her story arc, what she has to face and the growth she experiences throughout.
If you like:
-forbidden love
-taboo
-forced proximity
-high school sweethearts
-priest and nun
-religious guilt
-heavy religious presence
Then you will enjoy this!
I rate this a 3.25 (my rating system is in my bio)
This book was an ARC I was kindly given by the author.
This book really highlights the emotional chokehold that grief, guilt and regret can have on someone. To the point that they would bend over backwards to avoid facing those difficult emotions and walk a path they guilt trip themselves into. This is what happens for Damien when a tragic event that happens in his young adulthood leads him to alter his life and finding the priesthood 7/8-years after the event.
Only, he is soon reunited with his high school sweetheart and now Nun, Clair, when she is placed at his church. Clair is tackling her own challenges including the weight of others expectations of her as well as what it means to want to be a progressive nun within a traditional catholic community at Saint Anthony’s.
Damian and Clair struggle with their feelings for one another and what this means regarding their vows and relationships with God. Their story follows how they move through this and the internal conflict they experience as they wrestle with not only current emotions but those from the past.
The religious guilt is very strong in this story and the catholic faith has a heavy presence - to the point I had to check some of the words/meanings. That being said, the way this is reconciled in the story is well done and it’s a part of the storytelling. I felt that the break from traditional church values was also nice to read for example Clair’s sister Jasmine and Jasmine’s wife Rhea being welcomed into church.
Overall Clair is the standout character for me in regard to her story arc, what she has to face and the growth she experiences throughout.
If you like:
-forbidden love
-taboo
-forced proximity
-high school sweethearts
-priest and nun
-religious guilt
-heavy religious presence
Then you will enjoy this!
I rate this a 3.25 (my rating system is in my bio)
This book was an ARC I was kindly given by the author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I’d like to thank Alyssa Green for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and spoiler free review.
My Review:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
“They sought salvation in sacred vows—only to find it in their forbidden love.”
This story was so much more than I thought it would be. I’ve only read a priest x nun romance only a few times but I felt like this one is probably my favorite! Not only is their love forbidden, but the emotional depth that also plays a huge part in this story definitely kept me intrigued during the story.
I truly felt that Damian and Claire were truly meant for each other but sometimes life can throw you a curveball and you can either shy away from things, or you can learn and grow from it. Damian had suffered a huge loss in life when he lost his brother Rico, which caused Damian to go in a huge downward spiral until he decided to take up the practice of becoming the priest he is now. Claire, our FMC who once dated Damian, thought her whole life was planned out until Damian ended up giving up on their dreams. Now they find themselves both working at the same parish and it ends up testing them in ways they never thought they would be tested.
I, personally, really liked Damian and Claire and felt like Alyssa did an amazing job at creating two characters who have suffered a lot in life and are now finding each other again after a long time. You could still feel their chemistry even after spending time apart and I felt like Alyssa did a great job at showing the struggles that a religious person would feel when it comes to romance. Seeing Damian and a Claire fight their attraction to one another but also seeing how they both were able to work together nicely just made for a very amazing second chance romance that I think many readers might enjoy!
My Review:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
“They sought salvation in sacred vows—only to find it in their forbidden love.”
This story was so much more than I thought it would be. I’ve only read a priest x nun romance only a few times but I felt like this one is probably my favorite! Not only is their love forbidden, but the emotional depth that also plays a huge part in this story definitely kept me intrigued during the story.
I truly felt that Damian and Claire were truly meant for each other but sometimes life can throw you a curveball and you can either shy away from things, or you can learn and grow from it. Damian had suffered a huge loss in life when he lost his brother Rico, which caused Damian to go in a huge downward spiral until he decided to take up the practice of becoming the priest he is now. Claire, our FMC who once dated Damian, thought her whole life was planned out until Damian ended up giving up on their dreams. Now they find themselves both working at the same parish and it ends up testing them in ways they never thought they would be tested.
I, personally, really liked Damian and Claire and felt like Alyssa did an amazing job at creating two characters who have suffered a lot in life and are now finding each other again after a long time. You could still feel their chemistry even after spending time apart and I felt like Alyssa did a great job at showing the struggles that a religious person would feel when it comes to romance. Seeing Damian and a Claire fight their attraction to one another but also seeing how they both were able to work together nicely just made for a very amazing second chance romance that I think many readers might enjoy!
January 14, 2026
I rated this book 3* I was impressed with this book's detailed writing, exploration of faith, and swoon-worthy second-chance romance. The forbidden love storyline against the clergy backdrop was unique and captivating. Although some chapters dragged on a bit, the book was a compelling read overall. It tackled real-life issues like trauma, grief, and self-harm with complexity, and the romance was sweet and genuine. My one criticism is chapter 20, which felt unnecessary and triggering. Nevertheless, Ana's turmoil was well-depicted.
Saints and Sinners dives into religion and the weight of expectations. The author perfectly captured the struggle with self-doubt, fear, and anxiety that comes with it. It feels super authentic and real. The themes are strong, and it's a journey of self-discovery that is compelling to read.
Damian's character arc left me feeling pretty flat, to be honest. His dismissive attitude towards Claire's emotions and choices created a real imbalance in the story. The one moment that did stand out was when Claire took control of her narrative - it was empowering, and I wished she'd had more agency throughout. The motivations for growth, commitment, and compromise were understandable, but the repetition of the same reasoning felt like it dulled the emotional impact. It created this sense of emotional angst among the cast that was intense, but often felt unnecessary.
Claire's character really stood out to me - she's all about pushing herself to be better, and you can feel that. What didn't quite work was her making some pretty questionable choices, but I guess that's the point.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Saints and Sinners dives into religion and the weight of expectations. The author perfectly captured the struggle with self-doubt, fear, and anxiety that comes with it. It feels super authentic and real. The themes are strong, and it's a journey of self-discovery that is compelling to read.
Damian's character arc left me feeling pretty flat, to be honest. His dismissive attitude towards Claire's emotions and choices created a real imbalance in the story. The one moment that did stand out was when Claire took control of her narrative - it was empowering, and I wished she'd had more agency throughout. The motivations for growth, commitment, and compromise were understandable, but the repetition of the same reasoning felt like it dulled the emotional impact. It created this sense of emotional angst among the cast that was intense, but often felt unnecessary.
Claire's character really stood out to me - she's all about pushing herself to be better, and you can feel that. What didn't quite work was her making some pretty questionable choices, but I guess that's the point.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
A Raw, Emotional Journey of Faith and Love
Saints and sinners follows Damian Bellucci, a priest haunted by the death of his brother, Rico, and the guilt of failing to protect him. Eight years after abandoning his high school sweetheart, Claire Vergara, Damian is shocked when she returns to their hometown as Sister Claire, the new director of religious education at his parish. Their reunion is fraught with tension, unresolved feelings, and the weight of their shared past.
Claire, now a nun, is determined to reform the Church from within, advocating for acceptance and love. Damian, meanwhile, struggles with his faith, his vows, and the revelation that Rico’s killer has confessed to him in the confessional, leaving him bound by secrecy and torn between justice and his sacred duty.
As they navigate their complicated history both Damian and Claire confront their doubts, desires, and the question of whether they can truly move forward, or if their paths are forever intertwined.
The book contains a powerful, emotionally charged story. It dives deep into the complexities of faith, guilt, and love. Damian and Claire’s reunion is packed with tension, heartache, and unresolved feelings that make their dynamic impossible to put down.
I think Alyssa does a fantastic job of exploring the struggles of devotion, both to God and to each other, while tackling themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the messy, human side of spirituality.
The characters are well developed, especially Claire, whose strength and vulnerability shine through as she navigates her calling and her past. Damian’s internal conflict is equally compelling.
Just be prepared to feel all the feels—this isn’t a light read, but it’s absolutely worth it.
A Raw, Emotional Journey of Faith and Love
Saints and sinners follows Damian Bellucci, a priest haunted by the death of his brother, Rico, and the guilt of failing to protect him. Eight years after abandoning his high school sweetheart, Claire Vergara, Damian is shocked when she returns to their hometown as Sister Claire, the new director of religious education at his parish. Their reunion is fraught with tension, unresolved feelings, and the weight of their shared past.
Claire, now a nun, is determined to reform the Church from within, advocating for acceptance and love. Damian, meanwhile, struggles with his faith, his vows, and the revelation that Rico’s killer has confessed to him in the confessional, leaving him bound by secrecy and torn between justice and his sacred duty.
As they navigate their complicated history both Damian and Claire confront their doubts, desires, and the question of whether they can truly move forward, or if their paths are forever intertwined.
The book contains a powerful, emotionally charged story. It dives deep into the complexities of faith, guilt, and love. Damian and Claire’s reunion is packed with tension, heartache, and unresolved feelings that make their dynamic impossible to put down.
I think Alyssa does a fantastic job of exploring the struggles of devotion, both to God and to each other, while tackling themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the messy, human side of spirituality.
The characters are well developed, especially Claire, whose strength and vulnerability shine through as she navigates her calling and her past. Damian’s internal conflict is equally compelling.
Just be prepared to feel all the feels—this isn’t a light read, but it’s absolutely worth it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5⭐️
2🌶️
✨ARC Review ✨
This is definitely on the lest of better books I have read in a long long time.
Saints and Sinners follows Father Damian, and Sister Claire who were high school sweethearts who after the loss of Danian’s brother Rico, changed their whole plan and outlook on life. After being lost they both find purpose Serving the church and 8 years later are assigned to the same parish. Which begs to question how they will continue to serve God and fight these feelings that have been ignited.
I fell in love with Claire and Damian from the beginning and wanted nothing but the best for the both of them. I really enjoy how you get to know them on what feels like a personal level, from their love, heartbreak, loss, mental health as well as spiritual struggles. It really helps you build a deep connection to both of these characters and pulls you in to their story.
Growing up a southern Baptist it always blew my mind that Catholics were so devout to God that they could not marry (much less do anything else iykyk) and I feel like this book gently approaches the topic of wanting to serve God, but also wanting that natural deeper human connection.
This book also beautifully handles grief over the loss of a loved one beautifully, as well as showed how inclusivity with in the church may be modern but should be welcomed.
This story is overall a slow burn (with the smut being in the last few chapters) but does have a HEA. I was so invested that I couldn’t put this book down and just had to know what happened next. This is definitely a book I NEED for my trophy shelf.
⚠️ As always please check the trigger warnings ⚠️
2🌶️
✨ARC Review ✨
This is definitely on the lest of better books I have read in a long long time.
Saints and Sinners follows Father Damian, and Sister Claire who were high school sweethearts who after the loss of Danian’s brother Rico, changed their whole plan and outlook on life. After being lost they both find purpose Serving the church and 8 years later are assigned to the same parish. Which begs to question how they will continue to serve God and fight these feelings that have been ignited.
I fell in love with Claire and Damian from the beginning and wanted nothing but the best for the both of them. I really enjoy how you get to know them on what feels like a personal level, from their love, heartbreak, loss, mental health as well as spiritual struggles. It really helps you build a deep connection to both of these characters and pulls you in to their story.
Growing up a southern Baptist it always blew my mind that Catholics were so devout to God that they could not marry (much less do anything else iykyk) and I feel like this book gently approaches the topic of wanting to serve God, but also wanting that natural deeper human connection.
This book also beautifully handles grief over the loss of a loved one beautifully, as well as showed how inclusivity with in the church may be modern but should be welcomed.
This story is overall a slow burn (with the smut being in the last few chapters) but does have a HEA. I was so invested that I couldn’t put this book down and just had to know what happened next. This is definitely a book I NEED for my trophy shelf.
⚠️ As always please check the trigger warnings ⚠️
Review of advance copy received from Author
To start, this book did not go in a direction I expected. While I had not yet read it at the time, I was expecting something scandalous and erotic, something akin to Sierra Simone's Priest (which would not have been a bad thing), and at times, I suppose Saints & Sinners was that. However, it was also a beautiful story on how to not simply move on, but move through grief and properly heal; how old wounds can hold us back. It also showed how God's messages can be misinterpreted, and what impact that has on ourselves and other people in our community. I enjoyed this book overall, but I did have some critiques. At times, the slow-moving narrative benefitted the story, such as with the slow-burn reconciliation/romance between the two main characters. However, sometimes the story felt lacking in the plot department, and while there were some subplots and other important developments happening in the book, they didn't feel interesting enough to keep me entertained. Instead of savoring each page, I often felt like I was simply reading while waiting for the characters' relationship to develop. I did, however, really appreciate how fleshed out the characters were in this story. The author did a fantastic job at making this book feel like it was not just a romance, but two stories about two people and how they overlapped with each other, not simply a singular love story that put individual character development on the sidelines to prioritize the romance (which many authors do). As a character-first reader, I appreciate character depth so much in a book and Alyssa Green succeeded in that department, and that fact alone has convinced me to keep an eye out on her future releases.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one took me longer to finish than expected, not because it wasn’t engaging, but because parts of it hit deeper than I anticipated. The themes of religious guilt, grief, trauma, and identity were emotionally layered and, at times, confronting.
The story follows a priest and a nun whose lives reconnect years after profound loss shaped their paths. Damian’s decision to join the priesthood in the aftermath of his brother’s death added depth to his character and made his internal conflict feel sincere rather than sensationalised. Claire’s journey felt equally authentic, her struggle between devotion, duty, and self-discovery was written with vulnerability and care.
Their connection carried weight not simply because of attraction, but because of doctrine, expectation, and the pressure of community. It felt complex rather than scandal driven.
What stood out most to me was that the ending wasn’t solely focused on romantic resolution. Instead, it shifted toward something larger, healing, rebuilding, and creating space for others. I appreciated that direction and the intention behind it. However, after such an emotionally slow-burn journey, I personally would have loved to see more of that final progression unfold on the page, as it felt slightly rushed.
Overall, this was bold, heavy in parts, and thought-provoking. I’d recommend checking content warnings if you’re sensitive to themes of religious trauma and self-harm. For readers who appreciate emotionally complex stories that explore faith and healing, this will resonate.
The story follows a priest and a nun whose lives reconnect years after profound loss shaped their paths. Damian’s decision to join the priesthood in the aftermath of his brother’s death added depth to his character and made his internal conflict feel sincere rather than sensationalised. Claire’s journey felt equally authentic, her struggle between devotion, duty, and self-discovery was written with vulnerability and care.
Their connection carried weight not simply because of attraction, but because of doctrine, expectation, and the pressure of community. It felt complex rather than scandal driven.
What stood out most to me was that the ending wasn’t solely focused on romantic resolution. Instead, it shifted toward something larger, healing, rebuilding, and creating space for others. I appreciated that direction and the intention behind it. However, after such an emotionally slow-burn journey, I personally would have loved to see more of that final progression unfold on the page, as it felt slightly rushed.
Overall, this was bold, heavy in parts, and thought-provoking. I’d recommend checking content warnings if you’re sensitive to themes of religious trauma and self-harm. For readers who appreciate emotionally complex stories that explore faith and healing, this will resonate.
February 9, 2026
I was so excited to pick this one up. As someone who grew up deeply surrounded by religion, this book felt like it had the potential to hit close to home in a way that could be meaningful, messy, and emotional. Unfortunately, while I really wanted to love it, it just didn’t quite land for me.
The biggest thing that pulled me out of the story was realism. The way the characters spoke and interacted didn’t feel authentic to people who are truly entrenched in religious life. The constant cussing and the very self-aware, almost flippant way they talked about faith and vocation felt off. In my experience, people in those spaces aren’t usually narrating how badly things are going to kick their ass or speaking the way these characters did, and once I noticed it, I couldn’t un-notice it.
That said, I will give credit where it’s due. I love a good second-chance romance, and this book absolutely nailed that aspect. The yearning on both sides was palpable. You can feel how much these two characters still want each other, how much history and unresolved emotion sits between them, and I found myself rooting for them from the very first page.
Overall, Saints and Sinners had elements I genuinely enjoyed, especially the romance itself, but the execution of the religious setting just wasn’t for me. If second-chance love stories with deep longing are your thing, there’s a lot here to appreciate, even if it didn’t fully work for me.
📖 Sometimes a book can be good without being your book, and this one falls squarely into that category for me.
The biggest thing that pulled me out of the story was realism. The way the characters spoke and interacted didn’t feel authentic to people who are truly entrenched in religious life. The constant cussing and the very self-aware, almost flippant way they talked about faith and vocation felt off. In my experience, people in those spaces aren’t usually narrating how badly things are going to kick their ass or speaking the way these characters did, and once I noticed it, I couldn’t un-notice it.
That said, I will give credit where it’s due. I love a good second-chance romance, and this book absolutely nailed that aspect. The yearning on both sides was palpable. You can feel how much these two characters still want each other, how much history and unresolved emotion sits between them, and I found myself rooting for them from the very first page.
Overall, Saints and Sinners had elements I genuinely enjoyed, especially the romance itself, but the execution of the religious setting just wasn’t for me. If second-chance love stories with deep longing are your thing, there’s a lot here to appreciate, even if it didn’t fully work for me.
📖 Sometimes a book can be good without being your book, and this one falls squarely into that category for me.
February 17, 2026
Saints and Sinners written by Alyssa Green is a standalone read. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book is the only book by this author that I have read. This book had so many complexities and emotions. It is full of a slow burn with a hefty side of angst.
If you have ever grieved a loss that is weighted down with guilt, then this book will hit you square in the chest. Damian lost his brother in an accident that he feels he could prevented. That loss lead him to follow his brother’s dream into the priesthood. Claire was there as death ripped Damian’s life apart. Instead of everyone in his life coming together, everyone went off to internalize their grief alone.
Claire and Damian cross paths again, years later. Both of them struggling with their relationship with God and the vows they made to serve their community. The internal conflict for both of these characters felt so real and relatable, not necessarily in the religious sense, but in a humanity sense. It was intriguing to read Damian and Claire’s transformation. The path they took had to be their decision and not influenced by the way they felt about each other.
Overall, the book felt genuine to me. Catholic guilt is real, grief is real, and true self discovery is real. This book brought on a heaviness in my chest at times. As the reader, I struggled with Claire and Damian, feeling what they felt. The book may not be for everyone, but if you go into it openly it is something worth the read.
If you have ever grieved a loss that is weighted down with guilt, then this book will hit you square in the chest. Damian lost his brother in an accident that he feels he could prevented. That loss lead him to follow his brother’s dream into the priesthood. Claire was there as death ripped Damian’s life apart. Instead of everyone in his life coming together, everyone went off to internalize their grief alone.
Claire and Damian cross paths again, years later. Both of them struggling with their relationship with God and the vows they made to serve their community. The internal conflict for both of these characters felt so real and relatable, not necessarily in the religious sense, but in a humanity sense. It was intriguing to read Damian and Claire’s transformation. The path they took had to be their decision and not influenced by the way they felt about each other.
Overall, the book felt genuine to me. Catholic guilt is real, grief is real, and true self discovery is real. This book brought on a heaviness in my chest at times. As the reader, I struggled with Claire and Damian, feeling what they felt. The book may not be for everyone, but if you go into it openly it is something worth the read.
January 8, 2026
Wow! Where do I begin? We are all lying if we say that we’ve never battled temptation in our own relationships with God.
Listen, I am not a cryer. A book cryer if you will. It’s rare that I read or listen and fall to pieces with the characters. So, brava bc I silently wept at midnight while I tried not to wake my husband.
I can’t give too much spoilers bc this is so worth the read. From the scripture…which who knew I needed scripture among my books….to the understanding of love, agape.
Not to get too personal but reading this brought to surface my own turmoil with God, following what feels good over what’s right (right for who tho?), living moments fear driven, etc. What a reminder that God is love. There’s truly no wrong way to live in your faith. In today’s world, we readers escape to our books….to the hope they may bring us, the thrill, the torture, the mystery, the peace…all these things that life brings to our doorstep too and that with faith in God (or yourself or other deity) we can do hard things and we can love.
“This was what faith really meant—not the denial of human connection, but the embrace of it. Not the rejection of love, but the recognition that sometimes, God’s greatest gifts came wrapped in the very things people were taught to resist.”
This review may be all over the place a bit but take a moment and add this to your TBR…or better yet, pause what you’re reading and read this. It’s worth it.
Listen, I am not a cryer. A book cryer if you will. It’s rare that I read or listen and fall to pieces with the characters. So, brava bc I silently wept at midnight while I tried not to wake my husband.
I can’t give too much spoilers bc this is so worth the read. From the scripture…which who knew I needed scripture among my books….to the understanding of love, agape.
Not to get too personal but reading this brought to surface my own turmoil with God, following what feels good over what’s right (right for who tho?), living moments fear driven, etc. What a reminder that God is love. There’s truly no wrong way to live in your faith. In today’s world, we readers escape to our books….to the hope they may bring us, the thrill, the torture, the mystery, the peace…all these things that life brings to our doorstep too and that with faith in God (or yourself or other deity) we can do hard things and we can love.
“This was what faith really meant—not the denial of human connection, but the embrace of it. Not the rejection of love, but the recognition that sometimes, God’s greatest gifts came wrapped in the very things people were taught to resist.”
This review may be all over the place a bit but take a moment and add this to your TBR…or better yet, pause what you’re reading and read this. It’s worth it.
February 15, 2026
Saints and Sinners is a second chance, slow burn romance featuring Damian Bellucci and Claire Vergara.
Damian and Claire were high school sweethearts until Damian's brother, Enrico, was killed in a hit and run accident. Damian felt incredibly guilty as he was supposed to pick his brother up but was too busy with Claire and didn't hear his calls. As Enrico was planning a life devoted to G-d, in his grief Damian promised to step into his brother's shoes and join the priesthood.
Eight years later, Sister Claire joins his parish as the new Director of Religious Education. He broke her heart when he pushed her aside without explanation and left her to grieve her loss on her own. Now that they're back in the same space, his old feelings have come back and he is torn between his vows and his heart.
While both characters seem to have moved on, neither really has. They threw themselves into their faith as a way to redirect their focus and their pain, but underneath it all, they never truly healed. This religious component adds a different dynamic to the standard second chance romance. It almost becomes a love triangle.
One of my favourite lines was: "The scariest part wasn't even the possibility of losing it all - it was realizing I might be okay if I did."
I enjoyed the youthful energy Claire brought to the storyline. It served as a reminder that we should never forget to play. I also liked the LGBTQ component which Claire's sister, Jasmine, layered into the story and her push/pull relationship with the church.
Overall I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The weight of the religious component did not impact me as much as it might for someone who is Catholic and follows the church's doctrine.
January 8, 2026
ARC Review
Actual 4.5
Saints & Sinners
Author: Alyssa Green
Genre: Religious Erotica
Released: February 17, 2026
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Second-Chance, Slow Burn, Religious Trauma
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I would not qualify this as a dark romance… while there are plenty of intense spice scenes, to me this is more a love story of redemption & self discovery. I went into this one knowing that there were religious themes; not being religious myself I did not find it overbearing or hard to follow. The Catholicism was written beautifully and I did not find it preachy in anyway, it was clearly the basis of the MC's development. The writing was atmospheric, leading the reader to experience the confines of a confessional to the smells of the coast. Damien (MMC) & Claire's (FMC) story was heart wrenching, a slow burn filled with angst, sadness, fear and guilt. I both loved and loathed some of the secondary characters (think nosey biddies clutching their pearls). There was some repetitive content (i.e. eye colour, sweep of hair) but all around it was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a book with a good story where spice isn't the main reason for the read.
#bookstagram #readersofinstagram #reviews #books #ARC #indie
Actual 4.5
Saints & Sinners
Author: Alyssa Green
Genre: Religious Erotica
Released: February 17, 2026
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Second-Chance, Slow Burn, Religious Trauma
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I would not qualify this as a dark romance… while there are plenty of intense spice scenes, to me this is more a love story of redemption & self discovery. I went into this one knowing that there were religious themes; not being religious myself I did not find it overbearing or hard to follow. The Catholicism was written beautifully and I did not find it preachy in anyway, it was clearly the basis of the MC's development. The writing was atmospheric, leading the reader to experience the confines of a confessional to the smells of the coast. Damien (MMC) & Claire's (FMC) story was heart wrenching, a slow burn filled with angst, sadness, fear and guilt. I both loved and loathed some of the secondary characters (think nosey biddies clutching their pearls). There was some repetitive content (i.e. eye colour, sweep of hair) but all around it was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a book with a good story where spice isn't the main reason for the read.
#bookstagram #readersofinstagram #reviews #books #ARC #indie
January 13, 2026
Saints and Sinners was one of those reads where I wasn’t entirely sure it was for me after the first chapter but I’m so glad I kept going.
The writing is beautifully detailed without ever feeling overwrought and the story balances depth and readability really well. I’m always a sucker for a second-chance romance and pairing that with forbidden love? Absolute chef’s kiss. 👌
While I personally prefer short to medium chapters, these were on the longer side… not a deal-breaker, just a preference thing. The exploration of faith and personal battles with religion was central to the story and handled thoughtfully, though it did feel a little repetitive in places.
Mrs Fontana, however… made my blood boil. A brilliantly written, deeply unlikeable villain which honestly just proves how well she was done.
The spice? Uncontrolled and very welcome 🌶️ though I do think the story could have benefitted from a scene or two with more raw, emotional intimacy alongside the physical connection.
At its heart, this is a deep, meaningful story about love, God, faith and acceptance. It was refreshing to read a spicy romance that had genuine emotional depth and no insta-love.
A thoughtful, passionate read that stayed with me and one I’m really glad I gave a chance.
The writing is beautifully detailed without ever feeling overwrought and the story balances depth and readability really well. I’m always a sucker for a second-chance romance and pairing that with forbidden love? Absolute chef’s kiss. 👌
While I personally prefer short to medium chapters, these were on the longer side… not a deal-breaker, just a preference thing. The exploration of faith and personal battles with religion was central to the story and handled thoughtfully, though it did feel a little repetitive in places.
Mrs Fontana, however… made my blood boil. A brilliantly written, deeply unlikeable villain which honestly just proves how well she was done.
The spice? Uncontrolled and very welcome 🌶️ though I do think the story could have benefitted from a scene or two with more raw, emotional intimacy alongside the physical connection.
At its heart, this is a deep, meaningful story about love, God, faith and acceptance. It was refreshing to read a spicy romance that had genuine emotional depth and no insta-love.
A thoughtful, passionate read that stayed with me and one I’m really glad I gave a chance.
January 16, 2026
4.5 stars!
To start, this book was very beautifully written! It touches on sensitive topics, but with such grace that it didn’t feel uncomfortable reading about it.
This book goes through the story of Damian and Claire - they are both overcoming grief, guilt and learning to find their place in their path of life. The conflict and emotional struggles that they are met with along the way leads to great character development, and while this book focuses on religion, and expectations and vows, I feel like the reader can take Damian’s and Claire’s story and use it to reflect their own life and whatever the reader has to overcome. There are great life lessons and just a great story told in Saints and Sinners.
I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with where they think they should be in life or questioning where they are meant to be. This story provides a lot of comfort and understanding that we are not alone in this world.
But at the same time I think it is just a great read even if you are not struggling, the story is filled with hope and overcoming hardships that I feel like we all deal with throughout our lives.
I would like to thank Alyssa Green for providing me with this ARC!
To start, this book was very beautifully written! It touches on sensitive topics, but with such grace that it didn’t feel uncomfortable reading about it.
This book goes through the story of Damian and Claire - they are both overcoming grief, guilt and learning to find their place in their path of life. The conflict and emotional struggles that they are met with along the way leads to great character development, and while this book focuses on religion, and expectations and vows, I feel like the reader can take Damian’s and Claire’s story and use it to reflect their own life and whatever the reader has to overcome. There are great life lessons and just a great story told in Saints and Sinners.
I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with where they think they should be in life or questioning where they are meant to be. This story provides a lot of comfort and understanding that we are not alone in this world.
But at the same time I think it is just a great read even if you are not struggling, the story is filled with hope and overcoming hardships that I feel like we all deal with throughout our lives.
I would like to thank Alyssa Green for providing me with this ARC!
Review of advance copy
Damian’s older brother dies one night after a hit and run, and he feels guilty about his death because that night he was supposed to pick him up from a party. Instead he was held up by his girlfriend Claire and in return his brother walked home where he was fatally struck and left for dead by the driver. To try and make peace with his brothers death he fulfills his brothers dream of becoming a Priest and breaks up with the love of his life. Years later they run into each other at the church Damian works at due to Claire joining the covenant and becoming a Nun.
I liked this book, I’d never read a Priest/Nun type of romance story so this one being my first was not bad. The storyline was well written, however, I didn’t feel any emotional connection to the characters.
There were quite a few grammatical errors that kept throwing me off. The story consists of both present and past tense chapters and when reading the present chapters the characters would speak to each other on past tense verbiage.
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
2🌶️🌶️
Tropes
🖤Priest/Nun
🖤Dual POV
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Grief/Loss
🖤Forbidden Romance
🖤Small town
🖤Second Chance
Thank you to the author for the eArc of this book!
I liked this book, I’d never read a Priest/Nun type of romance story so this one being my first was not bad. The storyline was well written, however, I didn’t feel any emotional connection to the characters.
There were quite a few grammatical errors that kept throwing me off. The story consists of both present and past tense chapters and when reading the present chapters the characters would speak to each other on past tense verbiage.
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
2🌶️🌶️
Tropes
🖤Priest/Nun
🖤Dual POV
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Grief/Loss
🖤Forbidden Romance
🖤Small town
🖤Second Chance
Thank you to the author for the eArc of this book!
February 4, 2026
ARC Review: Saints and Sinners
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
quote: ”By the light that guides us, I promise to always find my way back to you, no matter how lost i get.”
“By the light that guides us, I’ll be your safe harbor.”
review:
I personally thought this book was so beautifully written. The way the words flowed through the book all the while nothing seemed overwhelming. I felt every emotion and pain the characters went through as if it was happening right in front of you. So many glorious feelings the book made me feel, it deserved my first 5⭐️ read of 2026. The passion and heartache both main characters went through was maddeningly sensational.
I will say, the struggle between “Duty vs. Love” somewhat reminded me of Mulan (give me a break, I just watched it with my 7 mo old.)
I love this book and the fact that (in my opinion) it didn’t have much spice to it, didn’t disappoint me in the slightest. The tension leading up to the spice didn’t make the act overbearing.
-
Releases 02/17/2026*
Thank you to @author_alyssa_green and @bookfunnel for sending me an ARC to review!
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
quote: ”By the light that guides us, I promise to always find my way back to you, no matter how lost i get.”
“By the light that guides us, I’ll be your safe harbor.”
review:
I personally thought this book was so beautifully written. The way the words flowed through the book all the while nothing seemed overwhelming. I felt every emotion and pain the characters went through as if it was happening right in front of you. So many glorious feelings the book made me feel, it deserved my first 5⭐️ read of 2026. The passion and heartache both main characters went through was maddeningly sensational.
I will say, the struggle between “Duty vs. Love” somewhat reminded me of Mulan (give me a break, I just watched it with my 7 mo old.)
I love this book and the fact that (in my opinion) it didn’t have much spice to it, didn’t disappoint me in the slightest. The tension leading up to the spice didn’t make the act overbearing.
-
Releases 02/17/2026*
Thank you to @author_alyssa_green and @bookfunnel for sending me an ARC to review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Saints And Sinners
By Alyssa Green
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶
Religious themes
Priest X Nun
I am not sure where I stand with rating this book myself. By I appreciate the arc given in exchange for an honest review 🥰
Alyssa has told the lovely story capturing the push and pull between highschool sweethearts turned Priest and Nun, Damien and Claire, who both turned to the church after devastating times in their lives not realising God had a funny sense of humor and a way of bringing them back to face each other. But will they manage to keep their places professional or will their faith tear them apart one last time?
As someone who grew up in a catholic school environment/church, I understand how set in their ways the church can be and I appreciate the storyline, but for me personally this dragged a little with a lot of repetitive storyline that just was not needed, it took away from what I thought could have been a 5 star read. But I do like that the main characters are human and relatatble with their struggles in life after loss both in the physical sense and in love at the start of the book.
Saints And Sinners releases February 17th 😘🖤
By Alyssa Green
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶
Religious themes
Priest X Nun
I am not sure where I stand with rating this book myself. By I appreciate the arc given in exchange for an honest review 🥰
Alyssa has told the lovely story capturing the push and pull between highschool sweethearts turned Priest and Nun, Damien and Claire, who both turned to the church after devastating times in their lives not realising God had a funny sense of humor and a way of bringing them back to face each other. But will they manage to keep their places professional or will their faith tear them apart one last time?
As someone who grew up in a catholic school environment/church, I understand how set in their ways the church can be and I appreciate the storyline, but for me personally this dragged a little with a lot of repetitive storyline that just was not needed, it took away from what I thought could have been a 5 star read. But I do like that the main characters are human and relatatble with their struggles in life after loss both in the physical sense and in love at the start of the book.
Saints And Sinners releases February 17th 😘🖤
January 17, 2026
First of all a thank you to the author for providing me with an arc copy of saints and sinners!
In this book we’re following priest Damian and nun Claire. Damian decides to follow his late brothers path to becoming a priest after an accident that led to his death. To do so, he left the woman he loved and all their plans for the future behind. After 8 years of no contact, Claire gets a teaching position at the same parish where Damian is the priest.
This story is so different than how i thought it would be. Faith really is the main line in this story. I have to admit that the first 50% of the book was hard for me to get through due to the religious terms, acts and beliefs. As someone who isn’t religous, this made the reading process more difficult.
Putting that aside, I really liked how the main characters were protrayed. In the end, we’re all just humans with human problems and desires, regardless of your beliefs. I think the author did a great job with coorperating everyday struggles in this book and that really convinced me to keep reading.
In this book we’re following priest Damian and nun Claire. Damian decides to follow his late brothers path to becoming a priest after an accident that led to his death. To do so, he left the woman he loved and all their plans for the future behind. After 8 years of no contact, Claire gets a teaching position at the same parish where Damian is the priest.
This story is so different than how i thought it would be. Faith really is the main line in this story. I have to admit that the first 50% of the book was hard for me to get through due to the religious terms, acts and beliefs. As someone who isn’t religous, this made the reading process more difficult.
Putting that aside, I really liked how the main characters were protrayed. In the end, we’re all just humans with human problems and desires, regardless of your beliefs. I think the author did a great job with coorperating everyday struggles in this book and that really convinced me to keep reading.
January 8, 2026
ARC Review
Wow! I enjoyed this book way more than I anticipated.
The book is basically about a man who tries to repent by becoming a priest after his brother is killed in a hit in run. His grief causes him to walk away from the woman he loved and take over the calling his brother had always planned on pursuing.
The woman he leaves faces her own difficulties and becomes a nun.
They are thrust back into each other's lives when she is moved to the same church as him and they realise that there is unfinished business there.
This is slow burning romance, with forbidden love and a healthy splash of spice.
The way the author writes is impressive, especially about a Complex topic such as religion.
My only small issue is that Claire wasnt more angry and closed off with Damien, It felt like it took very little time and effort for him to get her to just melt into him. I wish she has been a bit more baddass and made him work for it - but that's just my preference.
Wow! I enjoyed this book way more than I anticipated.
The book is basically about a man who tries to repent by becoming a priest after his brother is killed in a hit in run. His grief causes him to walk away from the woman he loved and take over the calling his brother had always planned on pursuing.
The woman he leaves faces her own difficulties and becomes a nun.
They are thrust back into each other's lives when she is moved to the same church as him and they realise that there is unfinished business there.
This is slow burning romance, with forbidden love and a healthy splash of spice.
The way the author writes is impressive, especially about a Complex topic such as religion.
My only small issue is that Claire wasnt more angry and closed off with Damien, It felt like it took very little time and effort for him to get her to just melt into him. I wish she has been a bit more baddass and made him work for it - but that's just my preference.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2026
I grabbed Saints and Sinners after loving Priest by Sierra Simone, and it didn’t disappoint. The story follows a young couple who break up after the MMC’s brother dies, and years later, they’re reunited. He’s now a priest, and she becomes a sister teaching at the same parish/school. From there, the slow burn begins, and wow, the tension is real.
I loved the way MMC struggles between his faith and what he wants, while FMC wrestles with her own devotion and doubts. There’s no insta-love here, everything between them feels earned, and it’s a meaningful story about God, love, and acceptance.
I’m not very religious, so a few bits were a little tricky to follow, but it never pulled me out of the story. The side characters were also great, everyone had their own feelings and conflicts that made the world feel real.
The spice was just right, showing up when it needed to without feeling overdone. Overall, this is a thoughtful, slow-burn romance that sticks with you long after the last page.
I loved the way MMC struggles between his faith and what he wants, while FMC wrestles with her own devotion and doubts. There’s no insta-love here, everything between them feels earned, and it’s a meaningful story about God, love, and acceptance.
I’m not very religious, so a few bits were a little tricky to follow, but it never pulled me out of the story. The side characters were also great, everyone had their own feelings and conflicts that made the world feel real.
The spice was just right, showing up when it needed to without feeling overdone. Overall, this is a thoughtful, slow-burn romance that sticks with you long after the last page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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