This book for me was just meh...I read over half the book but when I finally realized that I did not care about Liza or Dominic, I put the book down. It's not a horrible book, I just don't think this particular book was for me.

I don't know how I feel about this book. I know I didn't love it. But I also know I didn't hate it. I feel like I'm almost in the middle... maybe. Sort of. I just don't know. And I hate having this feeling of meh.

While the story to me was slightly ridiculous, I can suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy a book like this most of the time. However, Liza is a sex surrogate. This means that she has sexual relations with her clients. Probably not all the time, but it does happen. Not only does it happen, but she plans for this, as do her clients. In some cases I get it. There is mention of clients who need help due to injury or some medical condition. But I didn't always understand why actually having sex with a client was the way to go.

Then there is Dominic. I liked him a lot... until Liza finds out the secret. And as to not spoil anyone, I'm not telling what it is. It just seemed very wrong, I guess. The initial deception. But okay, suspend my disbelief and move on, right?

So the story is okay, the plot okay, the characters are pretty cool and I ended up liking them. I guess I just didn't connect strongly with the story because of my own issues with Liza's job. And then how things play out between them. Don't get me wrong. There is a happy ending and it works out great. I just wish I could have felt more connected and attached to these two together. Individually they are interesting and dynamic characters. I just didn't feel any connection between them. The sex between them wasn't all that hot because it felt forced due to the nature of Liza's job and why she's having sex with Dominic in the first place. Then there is this whole thing of her work vs. the connection they are supposed to have, and the fact that the lines are blurred and this is no longer a professional situation.

I don't know. I'm conflicted but leaning more toward the side of I wish it was different and maybe it's just me.

Not a bad book, I like this author and have read her before.

LOVED the concept of the story...just wish the author would have taken a little more time to develop the characters. The book was too short and too focused on sex for me. I get that the entire premise of why Dominic wants to leave the priesthood is because of sex, but given how the book ends I think we needed more character development. I wanted to feel more of a connection between Liza and Dominic than at the sexual level. Don't get me wrong, the chemistry was off the charts, but I wanted more.

Well, where to begin with this short novel from "new-to-me" author, Morgaine Cameron? I've read a lot of erotica over the years, but this one certainly took me by surprise. I read it in one sitting and give it 4.5 stars.

Liza Branscombe is a licensed sex surrogate who is very open about her own sexuality--she's a submissive and her preferred kink is BDSM. She feels good about herself, her sexuality, and her job, helping people overcome their sexual issues, which are often kinky, and she believes that she's seen it all. At least she feels that way until a sex therapist/psychologist colleague, Susan Cooper, refers a client to her, Dominic La Sera. Susan has been working with him for two years and feels that at this stage in his therapy he's at a standstill and that Liza is better suited to help him move forward, and that seeing Liza professionally will be the next step in his treatment, and Liza agrees to meet with him. All she knows about him is that his sexual issues are extremely complicated, and that his shame, fear and self-loathing have pushed him to the edge. Liza agrees to take him on as a client.

When they first meet, Liza is shocked by how tall, dark and handsome Dominic is, and finds herself sexually attracted to him. He's rather mysterious and ill at ease at this first meeting, but he does admit that he's concerned about his own admittedly kinky and getting kinkier sexual urges, wants to explore them in a safe environment, and, surprisingly, he admits that he wants discover whether or not he can live his life without fulfilling those fantasies or making them a reality, and so Liza finds herself tasked with what I can only call his sexorcism.

After meeting with him several times, they engage in sex, and Liza discovers that Dominic's kinks are the perfect complement to her own, but when she inadvertently bumps into him outside of the clinical setting (her home), she's shocked to discover that he's a Roman Catholic priest, and he's seriously troubled because his sexual wants and needs are entirely inappropriate for his profession, and that fulfilling his needs outside of therapy would necessitate his giving up what he feels is his true calling.

To say that this book is taboo is putting it mildly--and it's most definitely for mature readers. As their sessions continue, Dominic slowly reveals more and more about his kinky side, and it's clear that he's a Dominant, something to which Liza is more and more attracted; her feelings for him personally and sexually are as completely at odds with her profession as Dominic's sexual needs are completely at odds with his own. Intellectually, she knows better than to become emotionally involved with a client, yet she can't seem to stop herself, and, as their sessions continue, she finds herself more and more drawn to Dominic the man. As their sexual role-playing becomes more and more intense as the story progresses, I need to offer a warning. If BDSM scenes and acting out rape fantasies are triggers for you, or if you are a devout Catholic who believes that celibacy is necessary for priests, you may have a problem with this book, and probably should avoid it. While the sex scenes fit into the narrative, they are and may be too graphic and disturbing for some readers.

We eventually come to fully understand Dominic's problem. He didn't enter the priesthood early in his life, and prior to that he had an active but rather vanilla sex life, and the fantasies he now has are deeply troubling to him. He knows he cannot act on those fantasies in the secular world while remaining true to his priestly vows, yet his priestly duties and need to help others are what he feels he was meant to do. He hopes that his work with Liza and acting out those fantasies with her will get them out of his system so that he can give them up entirely and deny his own sexuality for the rest of his life. Liza too is troubled, as she finds it easier and easier to give up her clinical detachment as she secretly hopes that Dominic will choose to leave the priesthood to pursue an actual relationship with her.

For all its brevity, this novel is an extremely complicated and well-written story, and an emotionally gripping one, as the relationship between these two characters develops and draws the reader in. I found it impossible to put down, although I do wish the author had spent a little more time delving inside Dominic's thoughts and emotions in the same way she delved into Liza's. While this novel crosses a lot of societal and religious boundaries, it was a well-told tale and a very satisfying read.

I read and reviewed an advance copy of this book.

This book just hit everything for me....it was very well written! The sex between the main characters was absolutely fabulous and the story was interesting as well.

I like the taboo nature of priest romance books (I recommend you check out Amber Belldene’s series) and this one throws in a few extra kinks. Liza is a sex therapist/surrogate. I had never heard of a sex surrogate before this book, and I learned that in some cases she actually has sex with her clients to help them through issues they may be having. She can also help couples who are having issues, for example she has a client where the husband has cerebral palsy and they needed help coming up with ways to be more intimate that fit within his limitations. Liza loves her job and feels good when she can help people.

When a fellow therapist calls her up and asks her to help a man looking to explore his sexual thoughts and needs in a safe space, Liza agrees to discuss this with him, and Dominic shows up in her office.

Dominic doesn’t tell her at first, but he is a priest. Celibate, having found his calling and giving himself to god, his church and his community to serve years ago. But recently his sexual desires and needs and wants have increased dramatically. He can’t stop thinking about sex and his more demanding desires, and seeks out professional help. Dominic’s goal in seeing Liza is to determine if his sexual needs override his desire to be a priest. With Liza, she offers a safe space for him to try out his sexual desires, giving him a chance to weigh the two before making a decision that could change the course of his life.

In her personal life, Liza is a submissive. She goes to the local BDSM club once in a while to fulfill those needs. When Dominic mentions he has fantasies involving spanking women, tying them up etc..Liza tries to keep the sessions of them having sex and Dominic trying out his sexual moves professional, but she starts having the best sex of her life, and the professional line starts to get real blurry.

I think they have sex in the professional setting, three, maybe four times in this book and it’s hot for sure. Dominic is starved for touch, and the sex is very intense because of that. Throw in the taboo nature of it, and you have yourself a dirty little book. Dominic loves to be in control in bed, but outside the bedroom, he is more lost and fumbles around unsure of himself. I liked both sides of him. I also liked Liza – she has a fun personality and it was believable that being a sex surrogate was her profession. I will say though that at times it was hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that she has sex with Dominic for her job. I had to remind myself that she was doing it to give Dominic a safe space to work out his sexual desires. It’s not like she was laying there having sex and taking notes for work. She was IN to it, and it was easy to forget she was providing a service to him. It became personal for Liza very quickly.

That all being said, it terms of an actual HEA….we get that in the epilogue. But the actual book, is quite short and they only see each other the three or four times in the sex sessions. There isn’t really a courtship. We don’t get to know Dominic really all that well. If I can’t picture the two of them making it through a Walmart shopping trip on a Saturday morning, I don’t think you’ve achieved solid relationship status, and I can’t quite picture them doing that by the end of the book.

I would have loved the book to be longer so we could dive into the more complex issues that giving up being a priest really means andd to have a more solid HEA

Grade: B-

I went with 4 stars because of the quality of writing displayed by Morgaine Cameron. The subject matter of the book made me really uncomfortable. I very much appreciated however, that it was addressed with respect and compassion. The characters are layered and well drawn. The story strikes a good balance, the sexual scenes serve a purpose and advance the story. The questioning Priest plotline is what made me most uncomfortable, but I'm glad I took a chance and read Absolve Me, as I will remember the strong author for future reads.

Absolve Me by Morgaine Cameron (erotic, Carina, March 20, 2017)
This was a delightfully dirty find for me. Its heroine, Liza, is a sex surrogate with a new client, a man who has very dark sexual fantasies and would like to see if he can overcome them. The man, Dominic, reveals to Liza that he is celibate, but doesn’t tell her the reason why - he is a priest. Liza meanwhile works out a plan to help and as a sex surrogate that means her plan is very hands on. The problem is that Dominic’s dark and dominant fantasies mesh well with Liza’s. Their relationship quickly becomes much more personal than professional. Dominic struggles with accepting his sexual desires and what that acceptance means for his calling. Meanwhile, Liza has to deal with the reality of crossing the line with a patient.
 

Absolve Me is a fantastic erotic romance with some scenes that threatened to melt my Kindle. Readers should note that Liza and Dominic to engage in a rape play scene that may not be for everyone. This is the start of a series and there is some set up for the next book in the series (which I cannot wait for). I think fans of taboo romance will find this a supremely satisfying romance.

This is a fast paced read with a taboo kinky side. Liza is a sexual surrogate with a kinky side. Dom is a Priest with a kinky side. The chemistry is hot and steamy but again Dominic is a Priest trying to find his way. Will he? I liked the characters and the story. A good read.

Absolve Me by Morgaine Cameron is the definition of taboo. It's also erotic romance at its finest.

Liza is a sex surrogate. Sex is the therapeutic conduit through which she helps people overcome issues with intimacy. And when Liza's not working hard, she's playing even harder. She has a very particular set of kinks--mainly BDSM, where she is a submissive. She frequents a local club to satisfy her physical needs, but doesn't have much time for a relationship since she's so consumed by work.

Liza receives a referral from a therapist colleague, requesting her expertise. Traditional therapy with this client seems to have reached a standstill and Liza's friend is hoping that Liza can help. Liza doesn't have much information about this mysterious client, other than the fact that he's celibate by choice and has some intense issues he needs to work through. She agrees to take him on.

Dominic is intentionally vague about his life, but it's clear that he struggles with his identity as a sexual being. Because of this, Liza wants to help him explore his desires and fantasies, free of guilt or shame.

After a couple sessions, Liza and Dominic have sex, as is normal for Liza as a surrogate. However, things take a huge turn when Liza discovers that Dominic is a priest.

That's right. An honest to God, Roman Catholic, mass-holding, communion-ministering, man of the cloth, PRIEST. I knew about this before I started the book--it's there in the summary--but when Liza finds out for the first time, I might've clapped my hands in glee because I'm a sacrilegious sicko like that.

This book is seriously taboo in so many ways. As their professional relationship evolves, the lines between therapy and reality become quite blurred. Liza begins to develop feelings for Dominic, which is inappropriate for a few reasons: namely, he's her client and also, he's a PRIEST.

Essentially, Dominic is struggling with his sexual urges and needs to decide once and for all if he should stay in the priesthood or leave it. His therapy with Liza is designed to help him decide. However, like Liza, Dominic feels a connection that goes beyond what happens on a professional level.

Additionally, Liza and Dominic are sexually compatible because they share the same types of kinks--Dominic is dominant (Dom the Dom) and Liza is submissive. So, not only are their sessions extremely useful in helping Dominic explore his sexuality freely, but also sex between them is just plain mind-blowing.

As they learn to trust each other more, the role play and fantasies become increasingly involved. Trigger warning: there's a scene of rape fantasy, which some readers may find disturbing, so I think it's important to mention. In the context of their relationship, the role play is fitting. It's clear that Liza and Dominic are equals and consenting participants. Although Liza is submissive, she clearly holds the control and power in each sexual encounter.

Personally, I would have liked more insight into Dominic's internal struggle. We see glimpses of it via his sessions with Liza, but I suppose I just wanted to get into his twisted and delicious mind a bit more.

Halfway through the story, I was hoping and praying that the second half would be just as good. This was a quick read for me, but it certainly delivers on all fronts and my deviant prayers were answered.

Fans of Sierra Simone's Priest will likely enjoy Absolve Me. Although they tread in similar forbidden waters, each story is unique and stands on its own.

I loved Absolve Me and recommend it to anyone looking for erotic romance that pushes boundaries and isn't afraid to cross the line. I'll definitely be looking forward to reading more from Morgaine Cameron in the future.

Hallelujah, amen, and also with you.

This one had me curious enough to give it a go. I did not know that there were actual jobs as sexual surrogates/therapists out there. The sex scenes in this book were quite hot. This was a quick, but good read. I enjoyed this story. I have yet to read anything else like it. This couple starts off as client-sex surrogate, but their connection is so strong, that lines are crossed and she falls in love with him. He needs to decide if his dark desires is important or if it is the Priesthood. For a little while they had me worried, but their was a HEA.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Sex Surrogate Liza and her new patient Dominic, who is needs to explore his sexuality and what he deems perhaps inappropriate in order to move with his vocation, that of a Priest. Liza doesn't know initially that he's a Priest and when she finds out it puts a bit of a different spin on things. It doesn't however deter their sexual exploration and what is mainly kink. He has fantasies, she helps him act them out. They're a perfect match these two. Liza knows she's crossed a line, and they do talk about what her normal would be with a patient, and he's not her normal patient.
It was interesting to watch the story unfold, and yes it's a smoking hot book with well written scenes.
Is it a good portrayal of sexual surrogacy, no. But it's fiction and the writer takes creative liberty here and she does a great job with it. I liked the two characters too. Dom was a good man, who faced a life changing event. Liza did have his best interests at heart, and yes her own but she acknowledges that.
Ms Cameron keeps the end for the end. Truthfully I had no idea which way this book would go. Until the last pages.
It's a short and good read. Yes, read the book. It's light, easy and will add a little sizzle to your day.

**arc from NetGalley and Publisher in exchange for a fair review**

A fairly typical forbidden romance story, that was fine for the most part, but didn’t leave me gasping for breath.

The characters and plot were good, but I felt there was something lacking.

I wasn't blown away or anything, but it was a quick read. I can't say I loved it, but it's not awful either.

Thank you Carina Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 Stars I enjoyed reading Absolve Me. I found the dynamic between the characters and the taboo storyline quite enjoyable and look forward to reading more by this author.

certainly not your standard romance. interesting. GOod

an ok read. not my usual