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Book Review-Lessons in Sin by Pam Godwin

by | Feb 2, 2022 | Book Reviews | 2 comments

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

About The Book

There’s no absolution for the things I’ve done.
But I found a way to control my impulses.
I became a priest.

As Father Magnus Falke, I suppress my cravings. As the headteacher of a Catholic boarding school, I’m never tempted by a student.

Until Tinsley Constantine.

The bratty princess challenges my rules and awakens my dark nature. With each punishment I lash upon her, I want more. In my classroom, private rectory, and bent over my altar, I want all of her.

One touch risks everything I stand for. My faith. My redemption. And even my life.

As if that could stop me. I need her pain, and her heart, and she needs my lessons in sin. 

I could’ve made a dozen different choices that didn’t fuse her fate with mine. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. This was happening. Not because I’d planned it. But because it was destined. We were inevitable. I hadn’t been called to be a priest. I’d been called to be hers

My Review

First Impressions

Lessons In Sin is technically a standalone but it is part of a series by a group of authors “Midnight Dynasty ” that is connected to the Cinderella trilogy by K. Webster. This series features the Winston and Morelli family which has been put together by Dangerous Press. So what really drew me to really read this one is seeing so many in the booktube and bookstagram community really rave about this book. I do not mind some taboo like this (there is some taboo that I REFUSE to read) but I honestly get so fascinated by this type of taboo and it wasn’t handled by how you normally would expect. I wasn’t always drawn to the youngest in the Morelli family, Tinsley. She makes such a feature in the Cinderella trilogy by K Webster (which I did read and review last year) and I will say that in many ways this book blew my mind. I had so much love for this book and in the depths that it conveys to the reader. It’s definitely for readers that don’t mind delving into taboos like this, or edgier contemporary. It does feature mafia families, however, that isn’t part of the plot at all except for Tinsley’s connection to them.

Summary

So our story begins when Tinsley is sent to a Catholic boarding school for the more elite upper-class students, it also has a more specific educational regime that is catered to each student while offering discipline and structure. When Tinsley is found doing a blowjob to a boy her age, her mother is furious as Tinsley’s future is already mapped out as she is practically betrothed to a son of another high-up family. Her mother forces her to attend this school and she will be under the tutelage of the head priest and headmaster….Magnus Falke. Magnus is much older than Tinsley but not as old as she would have expected, but there is also a sensual charm to his looks and demeanor that draws the eye of every young woman in the school. Tinsley is furious at her mother, and her first meeting with Magnus doesn’t show too well but from the beginning, there is a level of angst and attraction between Magnus and Tinsley. But a relationship between them is forbidden. As Tinsley keeps acting out, Magnus only wants to punish her and delve into some of his darker desires. Even though their love and passion is forbidden in all respects, sometimes the taste of that forbidden fruit is the most delectable of all…

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What I Loved

Lessons in Sin was such a remarkable read and I honestly couldn’t put this one down here. I had such a fun time with this one in just about every way that you could imagine. I really wanted to explore this relationship that was developing between Magnus and Tinsley. And it definitely doesn’t build in the way that you expect. But there are also these sweet moments that build between them that connect them that have no sexual or physical essence to them that just made this story shine in such an elemental way. I have occasionally read the taboo where the hero is a priest (ahem….Priest by Sierra Simone) but it’s definitely not a common trope and for a good reason of course. I felt like Pam Godwin really handled this trope so well. I was really curious about Magnus, he is such a mystery. While we do get some of his POV, most of it is done on Tinsley’s side of things. I just wanted more of his past and see the intricate layers to his character. We see these glimpses of his facets to his character that only compel the reader further into the story. I really felt for the situation that Tinsley is stuck in. I really thought her siblings would showcase themselves more for her in this story and she was really left alone in this book and it actually broke my heart to see them practically abandon her in this one. But she is definitely a spitfire and has a spine of steel. I love her caring heart, but she is also willing to stand on her own and fight for what she wants. She has a complicated character that can be divisive but there are aspects to her I was so drawn to and could relate so well with. There is a good level of kink and BDSM play in this book, so do know that going forward into this story. If BDSM isn’t your thing, than I am not sure that this book will be for you. While its not super heavy, it is scened at times so just know that going forward with this one here.

“But with you?” He spoke against my throat. Lips like warm velvet. Voice like cold steel. “I am viciously, reprehensibly possessive of you.”

What I Struggled With

There were some aspects to the story that kept this from being a five-star read (and you all know how picky I can be with my five-star reads at times) my biggest issue was the heroine in this book. *sigh* I really really struggle with bratty heroines and Tinsley does really show her age in this book. I couldn’t relate to her in these aspects because I just felt like she was acting like a spoiled child and not an eighteen-year-old woman. ( I know eighteen is young but I wouldn’t have ever thought to act like this when I was eighteen) so I struggled in seeing why she was acting out against Magnus in some of the scenarios. I also was disappointed in the Morelli siblings in this one and how they weren’t involved with Tinsley like I would have expected them to be.

Overall View

Lessons In Sin was a remarkable read that kept me fascinated from beginning to end, its a story that will stun you in its brilliance, will entice you into the sensual delights, and captive your heart with its poignant moments guaranteed to leave the reader breathless.

Title: Lessons in Sin

Author: Pam Godwin

Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance

Format: eBook

Source: Self Purchased

Length: 448 Pages

Amazon| Barnes and Noble| Kobo| Goodreads| LibraryThing| StoryGraph| Literal Club

Book Evaluation

Storytelling Quality: 4.5

Story Itself: 4

Character Development: 3

Writing Style: 5

World Building 5

Feels + The Romantic Heart 4.25

Pacing 4.5

Plot 4

Cover Art 4

Ending 4.5

Book Ratings

Overall Rating of the Book

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Steam Level

Simmering—soft warm touches and light intimacy

Warm- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.

Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

About The Author

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foul-mouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.

Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.

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2 Comments

  1. JoLee

    Fabulous review. How embarrassing for her to get caught by her mother giving a boy a BJ. I have Stoke of Midnight and Priest to read but I really want to read this first. Have to wait and see what I end up doing

    Reply
  2. Natalie

    Oh no! Not the bratty heroine! I might have to pass on this one. Another terrific honest review! xox

    Reply

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