Bartholomew by Elle Sparrow

Bartholomew Temple was the quintessential middle child. A goofball to the core, he thrived on using humor to cut the tension in almost every situation. But, now that he was next to marry, how was he going to handle being a husband? He had always said he lived a life of gluttony: enjoying good food, good music, and good women. After discovering how his intended has been treated by their community, by their church, and even by her own family, it was no wonder he stepped up and agreed to marry her, sight unseen. It was the way of things in Zion. How was he going to handle caring for this godly woman while he wanted nothing more than to teach her the ways of pleasure and kink? Would he be able to keep up the ruse long enough to enact his brothers’ plan to leave the church? Or would he succumb to the temptation and teach this goddess the ways of sin?

Delilah Christian was a woman who knew what it was to serve. It’s all she had. Having been put down and shamed for her appearance and her size by family, friends, and community alike, she had long lost the hopes of being matched with a husband. That’s why it was such a surprise when she found out she would be marrying one of Zion’s most eligible bachelors. She discovers quickly that the man she thought she would be marrying is nothing close to the truth. He is goofy, vivacious, and has a secret side of him that she could have never imagined. It’s almost impossible to believe that he could really find her beautiful.

Can Bartholomew find the seriousness to help Delilah realize her worth? Will she learn to trust him enough to let go of all the insecurities she holds on so tightly to? Or will this life they both yearn to build come crashing down under the weight of the cult that surrounds them?