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Bless Me Father
She came to St. Francisville looking for a fresh start. She found a preacher.
Mercy Evangeline has spent her whole life learning what faith looks like when it's used as a weapon. So when a job posting at a small Louisiana church comes her way, she takes it — because she still believes in signs.
Judah Beaumont is everything a pastor should be. The town loves him. His sermons make two hundred people forget to breathe. He sits with the grieving, feeds the hungry, and buries the dead with genuine grace.
He is also the most dangerous man in three parishes.
And he decided Mercy was his before she learned his last name.
What follows is not a love story but rather a study in obsession. It gets hands on you slowly, in the heat of a Louisiana summer, between scripture and sin and all the locked doors you tell yourself you don't want to open.
Mercy knows something is wrong. The question isn't whether she'll find out the truth about the man she's falling for.
The question is what she'll do when she realizes she wants him more than she wants clarity.
Some mercy has a price. Some prices you pay willingly.
Mercy Evangeline has spent her whole life learning what faith looks like when it's used as a weapon. So when a job posting at a small Louisiana church comes her way, she takes it — because she still believes in signs.
Judah Beaumont is everything a pastor should be. The town loves him. His sermons make two hundred people forget to breathe. He sits with the grieving, feeds the hungry, and buries the dead with genuine grace.
He is also the most dangerous man in three parishes.
And he decided Mercy was his before she learned his last name.
What follows is not a love story but rather a study in obsession. It gets hands on you slowly, in the heat of a Louisiana summer, between scripture and sin and all the locked doors you tell yourself you don't want to open.
Mercy knows something is wrong. The question isn't whether she'll find out the truth about the man she's falling for.
The question is what she'll do when she realizes she wants him more than she wants clarity.
Some mercy has a price. Some prices you pay willingly.
- GenresDarkDark RomanceRomance
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 6, 2026
One word: blasphemous. And I loved every second of it!
From the moment I saw the cover, I was intrigued. And it delivered far beyond my expectations. I can’t explain this but the way author told the story was something else. Never have I read something like this before. It was refreshing. It’s raw, immersive, and carries this quiet intensity that slowly wraps around you until you’re completely consumed.
The atmosphere was divine. The story is so interesting! A small town hiding behind a mask of morality while darkness festers underneath. There’s this constant sense that something is not quite right, like everything is about to unravel, and that tension kept me hooked from beginning to end. I genuinely didn’t want to put it down.
And the characters… I’m obsessed. The contrast between the depraved preacher and the innocent FMC is exactly the kind of dynamic that hits all the right notes for me. It’s uncomfortable, addictive and completely compelling to watch unfold. The characters felt so real in a way that made everything even more gripping.
What I also loved is how unapologetically bold this book is. It doesn’t hold back. It knows exactly what it is and fully commits to it, which made the reading experience even more powerful. It’s not a story for everyone, but if you’re into darker, taboo-leaning romance with a heavy atmosphere and morally complex characters, this will absolutely hit.
I already know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time and recommending it to anyone who loves something sinnister.
I’m officially a fan and I cannot wait to dive into the next one when it comes out!
"I could strip you naked, fuck you on this very table, and all they would do is look away."
Thank you to AnaDatura and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC 🖤
All opinions are my own.
From the moment I saw the cover, I was intrigued. And it delivered far beyond my expectations. I can’t explain this but the way author told the story was something else. Never have I read something like this before. It was refreshing. It’s raw, immersive, and carries this quiet intensity that slowly wraps around you until you’re completely consumed.
The atmosphere was divine. The story is so interesting! A small town hiding behind a mask of morality while darkness festers underneath. There’s this constant sense that something is not quite right, like everything is about to unravel, and that tension kept me hooked from beginning to end. I genuinely didn’t want to put it down.
And the characters… I’m obsessed. The contrast between the depraved preacher and the innocent FMC is exactly the kind of dynamic that hits all the right notes for me. It’s uncomfortable, addictive and completely compelling to watch unfold. The characters felt so real in a way that made everything even more gripping.
What I also loved is how unapologetically bold this book is. It doesn’t hold back. It knows exactly what it is and fully commits to it, which made the reading experience even more powerful. It’s not a story for everyone, but if you’re into darker, taboo-leaning romance with a heavy atmosphere and morally complex characters, this will absolutely hit.
I already know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time and recommending it to anyone who loves something sinnister.
I’m officially a fan and I cannot wait to dive into the next one when it comes out!
"I could strip you naked, fuck you on this very table, and all they would do is look away."
Thank you to AnaDatura and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC 🖤
All opinions are my own.
May 11, 2026
"The morning light came through the tall windows and caught the silver in the room and made everything look like something it wasn't, and I thought: this is the thing that's going to ruin me. Not the darkness of him. The moments where he acts like a person."
Bless Me Father by new to me author AnaDatura was not wehat I was expecting - but in a good way! And while I can see now that it is book 1 in The Golden Cherry Book series, the cliffhanger at the end came as a "woahhh shock gasp" moment, when I thought the book was ending at that point.
So this is Judah and Mercy's story. Judah is the pastor in a small town full of decades upon decades of dark secrets, and Mercy is a pastor's daughter, new in town and clearly running from some secrets in her past too. I wouldn't necessarily call this a dark romance but it is full of dark themes and red flags - and I loved it!
What To Expect
🖤MF romance
🖤Dark themes
🖤Red flags
🖤Forbidden
🖤Virgin FMC
🖤Pastor with secrets
🖤Steamy first times
🖤Small town with a dark past
🖤Cliffhanger ending
Can't wait for book 2 Forgive Me Father out on 18 June 2026!
4.25 stars
Bless Me Father by new to me author AnaDatura was not wehat I was expecting - but in a good way! And while I can see now that it is book 1 in The Golden Cherry Book series, the cliffhanger at the end came as a "woahhh shock gasp" moment, when I thought the book was ending at that point.
So this is Judah and Mercy's story. Judah is the pastor in a small town full of decades upon decades of dark secrets, and Mercy is a pastor's daughter, new in town and clearly running from some secrets in her past too. I wouldn't necessarily call this a dark romance but it is full of dark themes and red flags - and I loved it!
What To Expect
🖤MF romance
🖤Dark themes
🖤Red flags
🖤Forbidden
🖤Virgin FMC
🖤Pastor with secrets
🖤Steamy first times
🖤Small town with a dark past
🖤Cliffhanger ending
Can't wait for book 2 Forgive Me Father out on 18 June 2026!
4.25 stars
June 24, 2026
This book was everything I could have wanted and more holy moly. Forgive me father 😂
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i need to sit in silence for a minute because this book just rearranged something in my brain.
bless me father is not what you think it is. or maybe it's exactly what you think it is and that's what makes it so unsettling. anadatura built a world that feels like humidity and guilt — the kind of southern gothic atmosphere where every sunday sermon has a second meaning and every kind gesture has a cost.
judah beaumont is going to be a problem for people and by people i mean me. he is a genuinely good pastor. he sits with the grieving. he feeds the hungry. he preaches sermons that make the whole room hold its breath. and he is also the most dangerous man in three parishes. the duality is the point and anadatura never lets you forget it. you will want to trust him. that's the trap.
mercy evangeline is the perfect counterweight — someone who grew up watching faith get weaponized and still chose to walk back into a church. her resistance isn't naivety, it's defiance, and watching her fall for judah while simultaneously unraveling what this town is hiding is genuinely masterful pacing.
the romance is dark. not dark in the "spicy scenes with a mean love interest" way that gets slapped on every other booktok rec. dark in the "the institution you trusted is the thing that's rotting" way. the trafficking storyline is handled with real intention — it's structural, generational, embedded in old money and older silence. it's not gratuitous. it's the moral spine of the entire book and anadatura treats it with the weight it deserves.
where it lost me slightly: there were moments in the second act where the pacing dipped and i wanted the tension pulled tighter. a few scenes felt like they were holding me at arm's length right when i wanted to be dragged deeper. but that's a pacing note, not a craft one — the writing itself is atmospheric and sharp throughout.
st. francisville feels like a character. the bayou heat, the church cellar, the way everyone knows everything and says nothing. this is southern gothic dark romance done with genuine teeth.
4 stars. content warnings for human trafficking, coercion, abuse of power, and institutional complicity. this is not a light read and frankly, it's not trying to be.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. this review is my own.
bless me father is not what you think it is. or maybe it's exactly what you think it is and that's what makes it so unsettling. anadatura built a world that feels like humidity and guilt — the kind of southern gothic atmosphere where every sunday sermon has a second meaning and every kind gesture has a cost.
judah beaumont is going to be a problem for people and by people i mean me. he is a genuinely good pastor. he sits with the grieving. he feeds the hungry. he preaches sermons that make the whole room hold its breath. and he is also the most dangerous man in three parishes. the duality is the point and anadatura never lets you forget it. you will want to trust him. that's the trap.
mercy evangeline is the perfect counterweight — someone who grew up watching faith get weaponized and still chose to walk back into a church. her resistance isn't naivety, it's defiance, and watching her fall for judah while simultaneously unraveling what this town is hiding is genuinely masterful pacing.
the romance is dark. not dark in the "spicy scenes with a mean love interest" way that gets slapped on every other booktok rec. dark in the "the institution you trusted is the thing that's rotting" way. the trafficking storyline is handled with real intention — it's structural, generational, embedded in old money and older silence. it's not gratuitous. it's the moral spine of the entire book and anadatura treats it with the weight it deserves.
where it lost me slightly: there were moments in the second act where the pacing dipped and i wanted the tension pulled tighter. a few scenes felt like they were holding me at arm's length right when i wanted to be dragged deeper. but that's a pacing note, not a craft one — the writing itself is atmospheric and sharp throughout.
st. francisville feels like a character. the bayou heat, the church cellar, the way everyone knows everything and says nothing. this is southern gothic dark romance done with genuine teeth.
4 stars. content warnings for human trafficking, coercion, abuse of power, and institutional complicity. this is not a light read and frankly, it's not trying to be.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. this review is my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 1𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘩’𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 3𝘳𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘳.
Mercy is chasing freedom and lands in a small town full of secrets, working as the church administrator… meanwhile the Pastor clearly has plans of his own. Somehow she escapes one predator only to walk straight into another trap. This was my first time reading mixed POVs like this, and I’m not even an age gap girly, but for some reason the 9-year gap and the switch in narration didn’t bother me at all?? What is happening to me 🤯 Judah was down bad from the first look. He’s tatted. Like hella tatted. And the way he caught the “good religious girl’s” attention? Snake meets Eve. Their chemistry is more slow burn, and you already know how small-town people are… I did not like them one bit, especially with everyone keeping her in the dark 😒
And please don’t be fooled by this hot pastor’s looks (I won’t lie, I applied for this ARC the second I saw his character art on my TL). This man has skeletons that would send you running for the hills. Mercy is a virgin, I’ll admit I’m proud of how Judah guided her through things… even if there were moments I wanted to smack him. The spice was a bit low for me personally. Billy is an amazing friend to Judah. Also, pregnancy was listed in the TWs and Ana handled it in a way that was brief and not triggering for me, which I genuinely appreciated. Thank you 🥹
That cliffhanger though?? Absolutely brutal. I skipped sleep and now I need book 2 like yesterday 😩 If you’re into romance suspense with messy dynamics and tension, you might want to try this.
🖤 Pastor x Church Administrator
🖤 Age gap (9 years)
🖤 Obsessive, possessive MMC
🖤 Pregnancy
🖤 Religious manipulation
🖤 Virgin FMC
🖤 Small-town secrets
🖤 Power imbalance / coercive seduction
🖤 Light trauma bonding
🖤 Predator/Prey
🖤 Violence as devotion
This is my honest opinion for the ARC I received. Thank you, Ana, and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Mercy is chasing freedom and lands in a small town full of secrets, working as the church administrator… meanwhile the Pastor clearly has plans of his own. Somehow she escapes one predator only to walk straight into another trap. This was my first time reading mixed POVs like this, and I’m not even an age gap girly, but for some reason the 9-year gap and the switch in narration didn’t bother me at all?? What is happening to me 🤯 Judah was down bad from the first look. He’s tatted. Like hella tatted. And the way he caught the “good religious girl’s” attention? Snake meets Eve. Their chemistry is more slow burn, and you already know how small-town people are… I did not like them one bit, especially with everyone keeping her in the dark 😒
And please don’t be fooled by this hot pastor’s looks (I won’t lie, I applied for this ARC the second I saw his character art on my TL). This man has skeletons that would send you running for the hills. Mercy is a virgin, I’ll admit I’m proud of how Judah guided her through things… even if there were moments I wanted to smack him. The spice was a bit low for me personally. Billy is an amazing friend to Judah. Also, pregnancy was listed in the TWs and Ana handled it in a way that was brief and not triggering for me, which I genuinely appreciated. Thank you 🥹
That cliffhanger though?? Absolutely brutal. I skipped sleep and now I need book 2 like yesterday 😩 If you’re into romance suspense with messy dynamics and tension, you might want to try this.
🖤 Pastor x Church Administrator
🖤 Age gap (9 years)
🖤 Obsessive, possessive MMC
🖤 Pregnancy
🖤 Religious manipulation
🖤 Virgin FMC
🖤 Small-town secrets
🖤 Power imbalance / coercive seduction
🖤 Light trauma bonding
🖤 Predator/Prey
🖤 Violence as devotion
This is my honest opinion for the ARC I received. Thank you, Ana, and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh my, Judah...Where to start?!
Bless Me Father is a gothic dark romance following Mercy and Judah. Mercy moves from her home town to St Francisville in hopes for a fresh start. She dots her I's and crosses her T's as far as venturing on her own including landing a new job at Grace Eternal as an Administrive assistant. There she finds Judah, the surprisingly young, attractive and tattooed preacher who so much as glances at her before giving her the job. That is a very good sign and great start to employment, right?
Going into this read, I had average hopes. The cover is nice and the description was so accurate in hindsight that I should have expected more because that is what it gave me! Mercy is a strong FMC for the book, she is level headed and knows when to ask questions - usually when she already has an answers and needs confirmation. Judah is also a great MMC. He's possessive, obsessive loyal and overall he's not overly unhinged to the point that its *too* fictional feeling. There is not any huge plot holes that I found although I did Absolutely sucked in and held captive myself by this read. The twisted and big reveals were very well placed and kept you wanting more and when it does involve triggers, the author worked them in so subtly and well that it actually wasn't too focused/more natural and brief which was a nice breathe considering some of the warnings (Pregnancy, religious trauma).
Overall this is an easy 4 star read for me. The twists were great, the characters were solid - even the side characters. Also to tack on Billy is probably my favorite so far! The ending felt a tad rushed but the cliffhanger has me nearly tossing my kindle adn foaming at the mouth so it's still a win for me! Definitely recommend this read and i cant wait for more!
Bless Me Father is a gothic dark romance following Mercy and Judah. Mercy moves from her home town to St Francisville in hopes for a fresh start. She dots her I's and crosses her T's as far as venturing on her own including landing a new job at Grace Eternal as an Administrive assistant. There she finds Judah, the surprisingly young, attractive and tattooed preacher who so much as glances at her before giving her the job. That is a very good sign and great start to employment, right?
Going into this read, I had average hopes. The cover is nice and the description was so accurate in hindsight that I should have expected more because that is what it gave me! Mercy is a strong FMC for the book, she is level headed and knows when to ask questions - usually when she already has an answers and needs confirmation. Judah is also a great MMC. He's possessive, obsessive loyal and overall he's not overly unhinged to the point that its *too* fictional feeling. There is not any huge plot holes that I found although I did Absolutely sucked in and held captive myself by this read. The twisted and big reveals were very well placed and kept you wanting more and when it does involve triggers, the author worked them in so subtly and well that it actually wasn't too focused/more natural and brief which was a nice breathe considering some of the warnings (Pregnancy, religious trauma).
Overall this is an easy 4 star read for me. The twists were great, the characters were solid - even the side characters. Also to tack on Billy is probably my favorite so far! The ending felt a tad rushed but the cliffhanger has me nearly tossing my kindle adn foaming at the mouth so it's still a win for me! Definitely recommend this read and i cant wait for more!
May 23, 2026
***Advanced read ARC on NETGALLEY!***
This book took me on a trip, a trip that pleasantly surprised me!
I never read a book that switched from 3rd to first person here and there and honestly it was refreshing!
I don't come across spooky hush hush like towns like this but with a name that place has, I say it hit all my expectations of it! You got some nosey ass old people? Check. You got people who know the truth and hide it for all to see? Check. I didn't expect a hot pastor though (haha) maybe a spooky town needs that.
For sure there were moments that gave me chills, actual goosebumps and it's hard to find a jump scare hit me in written form (like whaat 👀)
It was giving mystery mixed with forbidden love that just gave me all the feels when the truths of the town slowly unravel. And can I mention that ooowee it was spicy too 🥴 there were scenes I was like JUDAAAAH NOOO 🫣😳 yet I kept reading anyway haha
Mercy and Judah's relationship was complicated and yet simple at the same time (trust me, its the only way to explain this that feels right to say about them 🤣) but it was also because of the town they were living in and secrets that were being kept.
Everyone involved felt real to me and I think that's very impressive, especially Mercy and the trauma she has/had that resurfaced here and there. Billy is a favorite though but he gotta cut back from that drinking problem he has first 🤣
It was so so good and with a bit more polishing here and there, it'll be a hit that people will talk about! And honestly I hope she writes more!
How dare you leave me on a CLIFFHANGER 😭😭
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Keep it up!
This book took me on a trip, a trip that pleasantly surprised me!
I never read a book that switched from 3rd to first person here and there and honestly it was refreshing!
I don't come across spooky hush hush like towns like this but with a name that place has, I say it hit all my expectations of it! You got some nosey ass old people? Check. You got people who know the truth and hide it for all to see? Check. I didn't expect a hot pastor though (haha) maybe a spooky town needs that.
For sure there were moments that gave me chills, actual goosebumps and it's hard to find a jump scare hit me in written form (like whaat 👀)
It was giving mystery mixed with forbidden love that just gave me all the feels when the truths of the town slowly unravel. And can I mention that ooowee it was spicy too 🥴 there were scenes I was like JUDAAAAH NOOO 🫣😳 yet I kept reading anyway haha
Mercy and Judah's relationship was complicated and yet simple at the same time (trust me, its the only way to explain this that feels right to say about them 🤣) but it was also because of the town they were living in and secrets that were being kept.
Everyone involved felt real to me and I think that's very impressive, especially Mercy and the trauma she has/had that resurfaced here and there. Billy is a favorite though but he gotta cut back from that drinking problem he has first 🤣
It was so so good and with a bit more polishing here and there, it'll be a hit that people will talk about! And honestly I hope she writes more!
How dare you leave me on a CLIFFHANGER 😭😭
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Keep it up!
May 14, 2026
A novel that stays a bit too superficial for my taste. The events unfold very quickly and follow one after another, though it doesn’t feel overwhelming. The romance between Mercy and Judah develops rather quickly. They don’t even take the time to get to know each other. You don’t really feel the chemistry that goes beyond mere attraction. A slightly slower pace would have been more appreciated, in my opinion.
I did enjoy reading it, though, and I’ll read the second book. I found Judah’s POVs more interesting than Mercy’s, but I still enjoyed following her story. In the end, we never really learn much about them or their pasts—it’s as if they just appeared out of nowhere. And that’s it—three months tugged in 257 pages.
Around them, we have a few characters who’s been forgettable, at most. Except for Billy, maybe, and Darlene. I appreciated Billy. He lightened the story with his wit and mere presence. I liked seeing his dynamic with Judah.
As for the blasphemous side I was hoping… well, it’s not. Not as much as I thought it would be—or could be. It’s stay really superficial. I wish it could dig deeper in it, but there are no questions about it. Everything is accepted easily.
To draw a comparison, the writing style and the characters surrounding the main ones remind me a bit of Stephen King—but without the deeper insights.
As for the Dark Romance aspect… it stays pretty light as well. Judah isn’t as dark as I thought, and Mercy is sometimes a little too oblivious or forgettable.
I hope Volume 2 will provide more answers.
I did enjoy reading it, though, and I’ll read the second book. I found Judah’s POVs more interesting than Mercy’s, but I still enjoyed following her story. In the end, we never really learn much about them or their pasts—it’s as if they just appeared out of nowhere. And that’s it—three months tugged in 257 pages.
Around them, we have a few characters who’s been forgettable, at most. Except for Billy, maybe, and Darlene. I appreciated Billy. He lightened the story with his wit and mere presence. I liked seeing his dynamic with Judah.
As for the blasphemous side I was hoping… well, it’s not. Not as much as I thought it would be—or could be. It’s stay really superficial. I wish it could dig deeper in it, but there are no questions about it. Everything is accepted easily.
To draw a comparison, the writing style and the characters surrounding the main ones remind me a bit of Stephen King—but without the deeper insights.
As for the Dark Romance aspect… it stays pretty light as well. Judah isn’t as dark as I thought, and Mercy is sometimes a little too oblivious or forgettable.
I hope Volume 2 will provide more answers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨ ARC Review ✨
📕 Bless Me Father by Ana Datura
📅 Release Date: May 5, 2026
Thank you to Ana Datura and NetGalley for the ARC.
This one pulled me in right from the start. The whole forbidden pastor romance mixed with small-town secrets?? Yeah… I was locked in.
We follow Mercy, who moves to St. Francisville looking for a fresh start and ends up working at a church… where she meets Judah 👀 And let’s just say this is not your typical small-town romance. There’s something off from the beginning, and the deeper you get, the more everything starts to unravel.
Judah is VERY much that possessive, protective MMC, and I’m not even gonna lie… I ate that up. The way he takes care of her? Yeah, that part did it for me.
The story definitely leans dark this isn’t just romance, it’s obsession, secrets, and tension layered throughout. It’s spicy, it’s heavy in parts, and you’re constantly questioning what’s really going on.
My only thing… that ending had me like “wait… that’s it??” 😩 I needed just a little more there. But overall, I really enjoyed the ride getting there.
⚠️ Definitely check trigger warnings before going in.
If you like:
• Forbidden romance (pastor 👀)
• Possessive MMC
• Small town secrets
• Dark themes / obsession vibes
• Spicy + tension-filled reads
…this one might be for you.
📕 Bless Me Father by Ana Datura
📅 Release Date: May 5, 2026
Thank you to Ana Datura and NetGalley for the ARC.
This one pulled me in right from the start. The whole forbidden pastor romance mixed with small-town secrets?? Yeah… I was locked in.
We follow Mercy, who moves to St. Francisville looking for a fresh start and ends up working at a church… where she meets Judah 👀 And let’s just say this is not your typical small-town romance. There’s something off from the beginning, and the deeper you get, the more everything starts to unravel.
Judah is VERY much that possessive, protective MMC, and I’m not even gonna lie… I ate that up. The way he takes care of her? Yeah, that part did it for me.
The story definitely leans dark this isn’t just romance, it’s obsession, secrets, and tension layered throughout. It’s spicy, it’s heavy in parts, and you’re constantly questioning what’s really going on.
My only thing… that ending had me like “wait… that’s it??” 😩 I needed just a little more there. But overall, I really enjoyed the ride getting there.
⚠️ Definitely check trigger warnings before going in.
If you like:
• Forbidden romance (pastor 👀)
• Possessive MMC
• Small town secrets
• Dark themes / obsession vibes
• Spicy + tension-filled reads
…this one might be for you.
May 7, 2026
I have mixed thoughts on this book. On one hand, I found the storyline itself interesting as I love dark romance/church genre with the man-of-the-cloth having his own dark demons. And within this story heavily tattooed Judah does fit this well with his hidden agenda within the church. However, as I went along I had a hard time liking him... Just something was off and he seemed more pretentious than 'Oooo, he has red flags but I like him anyways.' Mercy was also a little bland and in my opinion had less character development than Judah. And even stating this was 'dark romance' seems to give the storyline more weight than it deserves: the themes were dark, yes. Ones that are found within many dark romances. However, the dark themes did not elevate the story itself into the same territory.
The writing style made it hard to fully immerse myself into this book. The sentences were short and choppy and there was a lot of 'telling and not showing' which, for my personal enjoyment, often prevents an enjoyable reading flow. However, at times this did create appropriate story tension. And the reference to Priest made me laugh.
All in all, I think for some readers this will be enjoyable. It is on the shorter side, so an easy day read. I am very thankful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
The writing style made it hard to fully immerse myself into this book. The sentences were short and choppy and there was a lot of 'telling and not showing' which, for my personal enjoyment, often prevents an enjoyable reading flow. However, at times this did create appropriate story tension. And the reference to Priest made me laugh.
All in all, I think for some readers this will be enjoyable. It is on the shorter side, so an easy day read. I am very thankful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC review
"They're like those big old gators in the bayou. Pretty to look at from a distance, but you don't want to get too close. (...) They're like logs. They look like nothing at all until they've got their teeth in your thigh and they're dragging you into the black. That's Judah. This type doesn't stop feeding just because they're full."
Mr. Pastor sure dragged me into the black. 😆 I really enjoyed the setting, the characters, the mystery shrouding this Louisiana town... The silent threat. The writing and pacing were great (as testified by the quote above), and I can't wait to read book 2 to find out what Judah's story is and how he's going to get out of this mess.
One downside for me personally: the book should have been longer, zooming in on Judah's inner turmoil.
"They're like those big old gators in the bayou. Pretty to look at from a distance, but you don't want to get too close. (...) They're like logs. They look like nothing at all until they've got their teeth in your thigh and they're dragging you into the black. That's Judah. This type doesn't stop feeding just because they're full."
Mr. Pastor sure dragged me into the black. 😆 I really enjoyed the setting, the characters, the mystery shrouding this Louisiana town... The silent threat. The writing and pacing were great (as testified by the quote above), and I can't wait to read book 2 to find out what Judah's story is and how he's going to get out of this mess.
One downside for me personally: the book should have been longer, zooming in on Judah's inner turmoil.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was... Interesting. And I don't think in a good way.
I was confused half of the time because the sequence of things, as well as the writing, made zero sense. The writing felt very, impersonal. Like someone was just writing out their thoughts in half incomplete sentences; some short and choppy, with no emotion behind them.
I wanted to like this book so much, I promise I did. I just couldn't get behind Judah and Mercy, at all. The relationship was unconventional, but I feel like there was a huge missed opportunity to write a really great story of human trafficking and some people caught up in the accounting of the group. This story had sooo much potential, but unfortunately just fell flat for me.
Judah is a pretentious a$$hole, if I'm being honest. And Mercy? She's just ignorant in the worst way. Like, she knows exactly what is going on in her new town and with Judah, yet she refuses to acknowledge it until it's almost too late. And Hargrove? He's an evil man. That's all I'm going to say about him, because he doesn't deserve the time of day.
I wish I liked this book, but unfortunately I just don't feel comfortable recommending it to any of my friends or followers.
I was confused half of the time because the sequence of things, as well as the writing, made zero sense. The writing felt very, impersonal. Like someone was just writing out their thoughts in half incomplete sentences; some short and choppy, with no emotion behind them.
I wanted to like this book so much, I promise I did. I just couldn't get behind Judah and Mercy, at all. The relationship was unconventional, but I feel like there was a huge missed opportunity to write a really great story of human trafficking and some people caught up in the accounting of the group. This story had sooo much potential, but unfortunately just fell flat for me.
Judah is a pretentious a$$hole, if I'm being honest. And Mercy? She's just ignorant in the worst way. Like, she knows exactly what is going on in her new town and with Judah, yet she refuses to acknowledge it until it's almost too late. And Hargrove? He's an evil man. That's all I'm going to say about him, because he doesn't deserve the time of day.
I wish I liked this book, but unfortunately I just don't feel comfortable recommending it to any of my friends or followers.
May 26, 2026
I was pleasantly surprised by this boom however, the writing style was… different. Not bad different. The book is dual POV which is always my fave however the female FMC was written in first person and the MMC was written in third person or about him which was a little different.
Now let’s talk about the ending because EXCUSE ME?? That cliffhanger came out of absolutely nowhere and slapped me across the face. I just sat there blinking at the final page like, “That’s illegal actually.”
Did I enjoy the book? Yes.
Will I read book two? Also yes.
Was it a five-star read? Ehhh… not quite.
This book had massive potential, but some parts felt rushed while others had me completely lost wondering if I accidentally skipped three chapters. There were multiple moments where I literally thought, “WTF is happening right now?”
Also, I desperately need more information about Mercy’s past because the crumbs we got were NOT enough. Book two better come prepared with answers because I am nosy and emotionally invested now.
All in all, for a quick dark romance read it was quite good and I can’t wait for the next.
Now let’s talk about the ending because EXCUSE ME?? That cliffhanger came out of absolutely nowhere and slapped me across the face. I just sat there blinking at the final page like, “That’s illegal actually.”
Did I enjoy the book? Yes.
Will I read book two? Also yes.
Was it a five-star read? Ehhh… not quite.
This book had massive potential, but some parts felt rushed while others had me completely lost wondering if I accidentally skipped three chapters. There were multiple moments where I literally thought, “WTF is happening right now?”
Also, I desperately need more information about Mercy’s past because the crumbs we got were NOT enough. Book two better come prepared with answers because I am nosy and emotionally invested now.
All in all, for a quick dark romance read it was quite good and I can’t wait for the next.
March 30, 2026
What. A. Ride.
When I started Bless Me Father, I thought I knew what I was in for—a spicy dark romance featuring a heavily tattooed pastor. What I got was that and so much more.
Despite the contemporary setting, Bless Me Father had a distinct noir tone that kept me gripped and anxious throughout the book. It felt as it danger was lurking in every shadow and not a single character could be trusted. The prose and imagery only added to the tension. And while the narration style took some adjusting, it was fascinating to experience.
The plot of Bless Me Father was so much more than the simple romance I’d been expecting and the cliffhanger ending will stay with me long being my reading.
While there were more typos and errors than I’d expect from a book ready for release, they weren’t so egregious as to prevent me from enjoying the book.
When I started Bless Me Father, I thought I knew what I was in for—a spicy dark romance featuring a heavily tattooed pastor. What I got was that and so much more.
Despite the contemporary setting, Bless Me Father had a distinct noir tone that kept me gripped and anxious throughout the book. It felt as it danger was lurking in every shadow and not a single character could be trusted. The prose and imagery only added to the tension. And while the narration style took some adjusting, it was fascinating to experience.
The plot of Bless Me Father was so much more than the simple romance I’d been expecting and the cliffhanger ending will stay with me long being my reading.
While there were more typos and errors than I’d expect from a book ready for release, they weren’t so egregious as to prevent me from enjoying the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mercy moves to a southern secluded town that gives off the wrong kind of vibes. A sexy yet sketchy Priest, cherry pins from old men with money, missing girls, and a lot of questions with answers leading to more questions.
This book was not Dark at all in my opinion. It has dark elements with the mystery and how the MMC runs his side business with the secret society and missing girls, but it was very light imo.
'Bless Me Father" had me captivated for a good while but when the mention of cotton fields and the antebellum southern house was mentioned without the clarification of their racist history, it gave me the ick. It also has the pregnancy trope which leads to the cliffhanger for the next book. I wanted to love this and recommend it but it is not for me.
Thank you to NG and AnaDatura for the ARC.
This book was not Dark at all in my opinion. It has dark elements with the mystery and how the MMC runs his side business with the secret society and missing girls, but it was very light imo.
'Bless Me Father" had me captivated for a good while but when the mention of cotton fields and the antebellum southern house was mentioned without the clarification of their racist history, it gave me the ick. It also has the pregnancy trope which leads to the cliffhanger for the next book. I wanted to love this and recommend it but it is not for me.
Thank you to NG and AnaDatura for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2026
Thank you so much, Netgalley, for the ARC!
I liked this book, though I have to say, I kind of felt like I was coming into a story halfway through.
Mercy grew up in a household where her religion was a weapon. She leaves town for a new start in St. Francisville. She luckily finds a job at the local church run by Judah Beaumont, who is a priest with a whole lot of baggage!
Mercy starts to see that things are not what they seem in St. Francisville, and girls are going missing.
I was surprised to see the book was only 175 pages; it definitely could have been much longer. To me, it felt like we were just getting to the good part... and then it ended. It, of course, ends on a cliffhanger, which I knew it was going to, but it still was a little sudden for me. As for the spice, it really picks up in the last 3rd of the book!
I am still going to continue with the series. I feel like it is going to be a great one!
Spice- 🌶️🌶️.5
I liked this book, though I have to say, I kind of felt like I was coming into a story halfway through.
Mercy grew up in a household where her religion was a weapon. She leaves town for a new start in St. Francisville. She luckily finds a job at the local church run by Judah Beaumont, who is a priest with a whole lot of baggage!
Mercy starts to see that things are not what they seem in St. Francisville, and girls are going missing.
I was surprised to see the book was only 175 pages; it definitely could have been much longer. To me, it felt like we were just getting to the good part... and then it ended. It, of course, ends on a cliffhanger, which I knew it was going to, but it still was a little sudden for me. As for the spice, it really picks up in the last 3rd of the book!
I am still going to continue with the series. I feel like it is going to be a great one!
Spice- 🌶️🌶️.5
May 6, 2026
I was given this book as an ARC through Net galley.
The writing style was different, but I didn’t mind it. The writing was very similar to someone talking out loud. Lots of sarcastic undertones that I found funny.
The chapters were dual POV. But it would take a minute or so to figure out WHO was talking due to them not being marked. So you’d start reading and be like “oh, I’m now the FMC”….
Book ends on a cliffhanger that I did NOT see coming! While I did enjoy this book, and I will be reading book 2 to see how it ends. I wouldn’t say it’s a five star read. But had the potential to be. I feel like parts were rushed and other parts I was like WTF is happening?
I really hope book two answers some questions I have about Mercy’s past. Because I feel like I need more info on that.
The writing style was different, but I didn’t mind it. The writing was very similar to someone talking out loud. Lots of sarcastic undertones that I found funny.
The chapters were dual POV. But it would take a minute or so to figure out WHO was talking due to them not being marked. So you’d start reading and be like “oh, I’m now the FMC”….
Book ends on a cliffhanger that I did NOT see coming! While I did enjoy this book, and I will be reading book 2 to see how it ends. I wouldn’t say it’s a five star read. But had the potential to be. I feel like parts were rushed and other parts I was like WTF is happening?
I really hope book two answers some questions I have about Mercy’s past. Because I feel like I need more info on that.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Anything with a priest/paster trope gets an automatic 4 stars tbh but this book was soooo good. Judah almost takes place of Father Bell iykyk, even though this is a dark romance and the other is not...so maybe it's even. IDK just line all the naughty pastors up and give them to me okay hahah
The story is so real, I wanna be in St. Fransville and I love a good book surrounded but he bayou and all its secrets. Even though we have a virgin FMC, I felt like her character was well written to where she was not super dumb and annoying lol
The drama, the spice, the heat (literally) is a whole vibe and I loved this book.
The story is so real, I wanna be in St. Fransville and I love a good book surrounded but he bayou and all its secrets. Even though we have a virgin FMC, I felt like her character was well written to where she was not super dumb and annoying lol
The drama, the spice, the heat (literally) is a whole vibe and I loved this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you for this ARC!
Oh. My. God. This book is the beginning of a series?! I can't wait for more! This gave me all the small town suspense and secrets you would want while adding the taboo and the spice of a hot priest and a smart woman willing to ask the questions no one wants to say out loud. Mercy is such a strong FMC, and I understand how helpless she was to fall for Judah because he would've won me over quick too.
It was an amazing book and I truly can't wait for the next one because the way this one ended? My jaw was on the floor!
Oh. My. God. This book is the beginning of a series?! I can't wait for more! This gave me all the small town suspense and secrets you would want while adding the taboo and the spice of a hot priest and a smart woman willing to ask the questions no one wants to say out loud. Mercy is such a strong FMC, and I understand how helpless she was to fall for Judah because he would've won me over quick too.
It was an amazing book and I truly can't wait for the next one because the way this one ended? My jaw was on the floor!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
SCREAMING!!!!!!
But, what do you meaaannnn with that cliffhanger?!??!?!
I was absolutely hooked from chapter 1! This dark romance had the steamiest southern gothic, catholic vibes and had me panting through the whole book! The writing style was completely captivating and went down smooth.
Mercy is a good, quite Christian girl, but I loved how she grew and stood strong for herself and others.
And Judah freaking Beaumont?! Like, I don't understand my feelings...
I am salivating for the next book!
Thank you to AnaDatura and NetGalley for the early e-copy to read and review!
But, what do you meaaannnn with that cliffhanger?!??!?!
I was absolutely hooked from chapter 1! This dark romance had the steamiest southern gothic, catholic vibes and had me panting through the whole book! The writing style was completely captivating and went down smooth.
Mercy is a good, quite Christian girl, but I loved how she grew and stood strong for herself and others.
And Judah freaking Beaumont?! Like, I don't understand my feelings...
I am salivating for the next book!
Thank you to AnaDatura and NetGalley for the early e-copy to read and review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book as an arc read from NetGalley. I liked the book for the most part, on other parts I felt like the MMC didn't really have a change of heart though the book ended with a cliffhanger. I don't think the MMC really changed his way. The book gave me the suspense and kept me on edge to continue on and on some parts I was confused but over all it was a good read. I finished the book in a day.
April 18, 2026
Deliciously dark.
I don’t quite have the words to convey how different AnaDatura’s writing is, but it is different in a very good way.
The atmosphere of this book was perfect. As someone from the southern Bible Belt, the description of Louisiana swamplands was spot on. I could feel the humidity in the air.
How you fall into this world and cannot tell if this will be a horror book is inspiring. It felt like a slow moving nightmare creeping up behind me, and I never quite figured out if I should be afraid and what exactly is it I am afraid of.
I felt like Mercy, and I imagine her feeling the same surrealist split of what you think and what you know.
Judah was an amazing character, I loved how dark he is.
The romance is spicy as hell, and I liked things I know I should not like.
I am sat for the next book because that was one hell of a cliffhanger.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I don’t quite have the words to convey how different AnaDatura’s writing is, but it is different in a very good way.
The atmosphere of this book was perfect. As someone from the southern Bible Belt, the description of Louisiana swamplands was spot on. I could feel the humidity in the air.
How you fall into this world and cannot tell if this will be a horror book is inspiring. It felt like a slow moving nightmare creeping up behind me, and I never quite figured out if I should be afraid and what exactly is it I am afraid of.
I felt like Mercy, and I imagine her feeling the same surrealist split of what you think and what you know.
Judah was an amazing character, I loved how dark he is.
The romance is spicy as hell, and I liked things I know I should not like.
I am sat for the next book because that was one hell of a cliffhanger.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Going into this I was expecting something really dark and intense, and… it just didn’t hit that level for me. like the themes are there, but it never fully pushed as far as i thought it would, so it ended up feeling a bit surface-level in places.
It’s not a bad book at all, I think it just didn’t quite match my expectations. if you’re newer to darker/psychological reads you might find it more impactful than I did.
overall: decent, but I wanted it to go harder
It’s not a bad book at all, I think it just didn’t quite match my expectations. if you’re newer to darker/psychological reads you might find it more impactful than I did.
overall: decent, but I wanted it to go harder
Did Not Finish
May 28, 2026I really wanted to like this book - I saw the art for this MMC on threads from this author and got approved shortly after for this book.
The book needs a lot of work. so many sentences are wrote so short and sloppily. SO MANY ITALICIZED WORDS. And the switches from the FMC being in 1st person POV to the MMC being in 3rd person POV? I had to DNF in the 2nd chapter - I just couldn’t do it, I’m so sorry.
The book needs a lot of work. so many sentences are wrote so short and sloppily. SO MANY ITALICIZED WORDS. And the switches from the FMC being in 1st person POV to the MMC being in 3rd person POV? I had to DNF in the 2nd chapter - I just couldn’t do it, I’m so sorry.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✨ARC Review✨
Intense, suspenseful, spicy and shocking. 👀
A small town with secrets to keep.
The priest in the middle of it all who isn't as innocent as you think.
What turns into a spicy, forbidden romance quickly takes a turn when fractures start to show the real truth in what is being hidden in plain sight.
A dark romance, full of jaw dropping plot and tension. You will devour this in one sitting and leave aching for more.
Intense, suspenseful, spicy and shocking. 👀
A small town with secrets to keep.
The priest in the middle of it all who isn't as innocent as you think.
What turns into a spicy, forbidden romance quickly takes a turn when fractures start to show the real truth in what is being hidden in plain sight.
A dark romance, full of jaw dropping plot and tension. You will devour this in one sitting and leave aching for more.
May 11, 2026
I was very confused by this book. There were so many parts that made little to no sense. Multiple times I thought I had jumped into the middle of a series. I understand the author was attempting to be vague and secretive, but it really just came across as confusing. I feel like the premise for a good story is there but unfortunately this just isn't it.
May 17, 2026
I love the thrill of reading psychologically dark stories like this one. Judah is the pastor in this small town. Mercy is the young lady he’s obsessed with. She is innocent and Judah is determined to ruin her. This does end on a cliffy and I can’t wait for the next book! I definitely recommend reading this one.
June 13, 2026
Addicting, you want more. The death grip you will have on your ereader will have onlookers thinking you're going crazy. I definitely recommend it to anyone who has a joy for a dark, twisted, taboo, "religious" affiliated, this is for you. Be mindful of the trigger warnings.
This was an ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
This was an ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
March 25, 2026
DNF at 20%
I really wanted to enjoy it but I can’t read it the way it’s written & the chapter titles don’t give any indication into who you’re reading about so it’s a bit confusing for me. I might pick this back up at a later date so it’s a soft DNF for me
I really wanted to enjoy it but I can’t read it the way it’s written & the chapter titles don’t give any indication into who you’re reading about so it’s a bit confusing for me. I might pick this back up at a later date so it’s a soft DNF for me
May 5, 2026
Okay, so this type of story isn't usually my cup of tea, but we only live once, so why not try to explore something new? I went into it pretty much blindly without checking anything except the trigger warnings (you should check them!). But they kind of gave me an idea of the topics that would probably appear in this story. And oh boy, they did.
Firstly, we have a kind of forbidden and unbalanced dynamic between the FMC and MMC: a boss x employee situation in a church as a workplace. Then add a small, religious Southern town with dark secrets into the mix, and you have a perfect example of a somehow typical, forbidden dark romance.
The MMC, Judah (yeah, like that one guy from the Bible), isn't just a red flag he's a Red Sea of red flags. I can see why some might find him appealing and attractive his demeanor, his personality, the authority of a priest in a small, God-loving town. But as the story progressed, his charming facade slipped away, and his true colors of possessiveness and controlling antics shone through.
The main girl, Mercy (the author definitely had a laugh coming up with the names for this story), is a simple, naive young girl with religious trauma backstory. And that's pretty much it. Some of her truthfully dumb decisions lead her to an unfortunate chain of events. Certain moments felt like those scenes in slasher/horror movies when a character does something utterly stupid, and you, as the person watching, just want to scream at the screen and shake that fool. That's how I felt a lot of the time while reading about Mercy's decisions.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the writing it perfectly captures the essence of the story, the aesthetic, and the vibes. I also laughed quite a lot over the side characters, especially Billy, so now I'm looking forward to seeing his story.
Firstly, we have a kind of forbidden and unbalanced dynamic between the FMC and MMC: a boss x employee situation in a church as a workplace. Then add a small, religious Southern town with dark secrets into the mix, and you have a perfect example of a somehow typical, forbidden dark romance.
The MMC, Judah (yeah, like that one guy from the Bible), isn't just a red flag he's a Red Sea of red flags. I can see why some might find him appealing and attractive his demeanor, his personality, the authority of a priest in a small, God-loving town. But as the story progressed, his charming facade slipped away, and his true colors of possessiveness and controlling antics shone through.
The main girl, Mercy (the author definitely had a laugh coming up with the names for this story), is a simple, naive young girl with religious trauma backstory. And that's pretty much it. Some of her truthfully dumb decisions lead her to an unfortunate chain of events. Certain moments felt like those scenes in slasher/horror movies when a character does something utterly stupid, and you, as the person watching, just want to scream at the screen and shake that fool. That's how I felt a lot of the time while reading about Mercy's decisions.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the writing it perfectly captures the essence of the story, the aesthetic, and the vibes. I also laughed quite a lot over the side characters, especially Billy, so now I'm looking forward to seeing his story.
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