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A Taste of Sin

Secrets in Edgewood, Book 1

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A Taste of Sin

By: Kate Hawthorne
Narrated by: Christopher Rourke
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About this listen

I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.

Reed’s days are full of unexpected surprises - pretty par for the course as the principal of the only Catholic school in a small town, but there’s one surprise he wasn’t prepared for, and that was Dominic O’Halloran.

God help me, I want you.

Dominic has spent decades thinking about the life he could have lived. What if he’d not been an orphan? What if he’d been adopted? What if his best friend Reed hadn’t been torn out of his life when they were teens? But as an adult, he’s focused on the things he can control - his faith, his calling, and his pride.

If you still want me, then I’ll have you.

Finally together after a lifetime apart, Dominic and Reed find themselves in a state of emotional upheaval, complicated by the rules of their religions. Reed is terrified of losing his soul, and Dominic, his heart, but neither of them are willing to give up on the second chance they’ve been given without first enjoying a taste of sin.

Forgive me, Father; it appears I’ve sinned.

©2019 Kate Hawthorne (P)2020 Kate Hawthorne Romance

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All stars
Most relevant  
Reed and Dominic had been best friends whilst they were in Foster care but had lost touch for twenty years when Reed had been adopted. Alot of things have changed in those twenty years...but not their feelings for each other!
fantastic story with lots of twists within it.
Christopher Rourkes narration was great and extremely easy to listen to and I could feel the emotions through his voice.

Reconnected

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Listener received this title free

This was really great, I loved the characters and I thought that the story was very unique. I really enjoyed it. And the narrator was brilliant!

great!

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Listener received this title free

Reed headmaster at a Catholic school. Once a Foster kud with his best friend Dominic. They haven't seen each other for a couple of decades.
Present day Dominic a Priest but not Catholic, met Reed again and his feeling surface again.
I have to say I was slightly bored by this book. It was long winded and then you didn't get a HEA.
I did listen to it all and the narration was good. Not sure if it all comes together more in book 2. I will have to find out.


A Taste of Sin
Secrets in Edgewood, Book 1
By: Kate Hawthorne
Narrated by: Christopher Rourke
Series: Secrets in Edgewood, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.05 speed on Audible

Slightly bored, but persevered.

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Listener received this title free

Reed and Dominic were in foster care together. They were as close as brothers could be and their worlds were torn apart when Reed was adopted. Dominic never heard from him again.

Years later, Reed is the principal of a Catholic School. He lives a solitary life, pushing down his homosexual urges. Image is everything, and the church is very clear on its teachings. Being gay is a mortal sin. Then one day he encounters Dominic in a local fast-food joint and he’s stunned. He’s never forgotten his foster brother, but he also never expected to see him again. Especially in this town far from where they’d met.

Dominic is a priest, although not in the Catholic church. He is a respected member of his community - a leader in his congregation. He is also shocked to see Reed, although there is some resentment there. When Reed was adopted, he disappeared and Nic never heard from him again. He was hurt. Really hurt. Only later in the book is it revealed what happened behind the scenes.

The two men are attracted to each other and while one is free to pursue the relationship, the other is forbidden. Well, perhaps forbidden is too strong a word. But Reed knows he’ll lose his job. A job that means everything to him. Or so he’s always believed. As he struggles with his attraction, Nic feels like he’s being taken advantage of. Reed wants all the benefits of a secret relationship (read: sex – a lot of sex) but wants none of the responsibility. Nic has no interest in being in the closet. He’s out and wants his parishioners to know it’s okay to be gay. He encourages the kids to start an LGBT group and is pleasantly surprised when Reed sends a young woman his way for spiritual guidance. The young woman believes she’s gay, and there’s no place for her in Reed’s world.

Yet as many problems that plague the relationship, neither man can let go. As Reed says to Nic, “I just want to be allowed to love you.” Basically a plea for understanding. When the two get some time alone, it’s clear they were meant to be together. But then they return to Edgewood and it looks like their relationship will be on the down low again. I might have despaired a bit. But this is a romance, thank goodness. This book struck a chord with me – two men who just want to be allowed to love each other. I struggle to tolerate churches where flock members are rejected because of who they are. Needless to say, I was interested in how this book was going to find a happy resolution.

I’m intrigued about where this series is going, and will eagerly anticipate the next book. Finally I have to mention Christopher Rourke. He’s a new-to-me narrator and I have to say I enjoyed his performance. I hope he narrates any subsequent books in the series.

Will religion tear them apart?

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Listener received this title free

Life is messy, confusing, and can’t always be wrapped up with a beautiful bow. This sums up this story. If you’re looking for a sugary sweet, ‘happy ever after’ love story, this is not you. If you’ve read any of the reviews that this doesn’t have a pretty HEA, but it does have a satisfying ending. Personally, given the amount of personal growth that Reed goes through, I feel it would be disingenuous to the storyline. Their journey to love isn’t an easy one, it isn’t smooth sailing. Reed has buried his sexuality underneath a rigorous set of religious beliefs that says it’s wrong. There’s no gray area in Catholic faith; homosexuality is a sin. It is because of this that Reed goes back and forth so much. My heart broke for both of them. Dominic’s heart took a beating in this book, but it is a strong heart. He is an incredible human being, and the kind that makes me want to give the world to. 💔

This story was beautifully written, with well developed characters. I’ve been dying to read something by Kate Hawthorne. I own several, but we all know how TBR lists can be. This book did not disappoint, not at all. In fact, now I need more. 🔥

This is the first book I’ve listened to, that’s narrated by Christopher Rourke. I was impressed, there wasn’t a lot of difference between characters, but enough to know the difference, if that makes sense. People can have similar voices, but it’s their personality, and uniqueness, that gives them a differing quality. He portrayed them very well, putting emotion behind his words. He brought this story to life, and I’m hoping to hear more from him in the future. ❤️

Hot, Angsty Goodness

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Listener received this title free

This story was really good. I never thought I'd want to read a priest story, but Kate has a way of sucking you in. I was immediately drawn to the characters. Reed, our catholic principal who doesn't deviate from his routine and Nic our liquor loving priest. Even though they knew each other from childhood, the fact that they grew into polar opposites was astounding. I loved hearing Christopher voicing these two. He was able to bring out the pain and confusion that Reed has to deal with. He also had to balance it well with Nic's patients and understanding.

Hot Priest x Hot Principal

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Listener received this title free

When I first read this book, the angst in it almost killed me. The second time around was much of the same. Nic and Reed are so good together but they had so many feel between the two of them before they just exploded. It's my favorite of the Secrets in Edgewood series for a reason. The UST between them in the beginning is just killer.
While I like this narrator, I just didn't feel him as the characters in this book. I don't know. There was just something missing when I was listening. I know how the book made me feel when I read it and listening was just so...different. It was good, don't get me wrong, but it just wasn't what I imagined for them.

Okay

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Listener received this title free

Nic and Reed were foster kids at the same home, until Reed was adopted. Now, 20 years later, a surprise encounter makes the feelings they had for each other when they were 14 and 13 years old surface yet again and blossom. But Reed is not out, matter of fact, he barely acknowledges that he might be gay. And even if he admitted it, there's the small fact that his work as a principal at a Catholic school might be threatened if his boss learns of their involvement.

I liked Nic and Reed, although their relationship felt a tad forced and I wanted to slap some sense into them a few times. Still, they had chemistry and were hot together.

I would've liked the book more, if there had been more than a HFN in the end. Anyway, it was a good, solid, angsty and hot read that I have no trouble recommending.

Christopher Rourke did a good job with the narration. There were some parts that felt a tad flat, but overall, it was an enjoyable performance.

Good second chances romance...

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I loved reading this book, because it's a second chance, friends to lovers, priest love story, and written by Kate - so what not to love, yes?
I was really excited about the audio, especially since Kate was hyping it real good - but the narrator/voices was not for me this time. I had a bit of trouble liking this voice back in A Thousand Lifetimes too, but this time was worse. It was flat and the emotions were not coming through either.
I wanted to love it, but the voices weren't perfect for the characters and for me either.
It wasn't so bad, it's still a 4 star, but not what I imagined for this story.

The book itself is really good, but the audio is not for me this time.

Not what I hoped for, but it was likeable

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This was the first book in the Secrets of Edgewood series and it was a mixture of angst and hope with an intense romance. Reed struggles with his Catholic faith and his attraction and love for Dominic. Dominic struggles with how he and Reed were torn apart when they were teenagers. Both men have their emotional and spiritual issues that were painful to watch, but the author never lets us lose hope for the main characters. I liked watching how each man confronted their pain and moved forward towards love and happiness. Along with the emotional journey, there was some amazing and really hot sex scenes that incorporated some D/s and other kinky elements. I thought this book was well written and really touching.

The audiobook was narrated by Christopher Rourke who did a great job. He had a wonderful performance and voiced all the characters perfectly. I had no trouble following along with the story. The audiobook production was well done and really enjoyable.

Sorrow and Joy

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