Levi Binder is a Miami bartender who cares about only two things: sex and surfing. Ostracized by his Mormon family for his homosexuality, Levi is determined to live his life his own way, but everything changes when he meets massage therapist Jaime Marshall.
Jaime is used to being alone. Haunted by the horrors of his past, his only friend is his faithful dog, Dolly. He has no idea how to handle somebody as gorgeous and vibrant as Levi.
Complete opposites on the surface, Levi and Jaime both long for something that they can only find together. Through love and the therapeutic power of touch, they’ll find a way to heal each other, and they’ll learn to live as sinners in a family of saints.
*****
Buy it here:
Paperback available here
Paperback will be available in the next couple of weeks.
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-121-1 (Electronic)
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-955-2 (Paperback)
*****
Here are some lovely photos for you, in case you missed them earlier. This is Levi:
And this is Jaime:
Aren’t they gorgeous?
Below is a tiny little excerpt from Levi’s first massage appointment with Jaime. Enjoy!
*****
Jaime’s hands were incredibly soft. He didn’t rub hard at first. He seemed to be exploring the muscle high on Levi’s thigh with his fingers, watching Levi’s reaction.
“Does it hurt here?”
“Not as much.”
“And here?”
“Yes, more there.”
“And is it focalized, or does it radiate out to other places.”
“It’s just there.”
“That’s good.” His hand slid toward the inside of Levi’s thigh, and Levi tensed. “Just relax, Mr. Binder.” At least he pronounced it right.
“Please don’t call me that.”
“You prefer Levi?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, Levi. Try to relax.” But Levi was finding it very difficult to relax. Jaime’s soft hand was moving slowly up the inside of his thigh, stopping every inch or two to press into the muscle before moving on, and Levi’s body was reacting in a way which he feared was wholly inappropriate, given the circumstances. “Relax,” Jaime said again.
“I can’t!” Levi snapped.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jaime said. His tone was clinical. Professional. Detached. “It’s a common physical reaction. You don’t need to be embarrassed.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“It’s a natural response to physical stimulation—”
“No shit!” The stupid thing was, now that they were talking about it, it was only getting worse. He was pretty much flying full mast now, and the thin sheet covering him certainly wasn’t hiding it. “Are you almost done?”
Suddenly Jaime pushed harder on his tender thigh. It hurt so much Levi just about jumped off of the table. “Ow! What the hell? Did you do that on purpose?”
“Took your mind off your other problem didn’t it?” Jaime said, without cracking a smile.
“You’re a little bit sadistic, aren’t you?”
“You’re not the first person to think so.”
Melissa
/ January 24, 2012I just finished this book and felt an overwhelming need to thank you for writing it. There’s something so special and unique about the characters tied together with the theme that love is love and therefore can not be considered a sin no matter how you look at it that pulled me in, captured my attention, and quickly worked it’s way to the top of my all time favorite books. I struggle with the idea of religion myself because of the way it judges homosexuality as a higher and ‘worse’ sin than a lot of other sins and the fact that I wholeheartedly believe that you are born this way and if there is a God, then he made us this way and now chooses to judge more harshly. I don’t know honestly, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, but the point is, that you wrote a story so real and raw and unbelievably fair to all sides that I spent the majority of my time reading in tears from one scene to the next. I do believe I need to look more into your work and read it because the story of these boys has stolen my heart. Once again, thank you so much for sharing Levi and Jaime’s story and taking on the task of balancing religion in a story and doing it so incredibly well!
xoxo
Mel
Marie Sexton
/ January 24, 2012Thanks Melissa. It was important to me to be as fair to Levi’s family as I could, even though I certainly don’t agree with their standpoint. I’m glad the story resonated so well with you.
Thanks!
ChazAdams
/ November 7, 2011I recently needed something to read and came across “Between Saints and Sinners” in the Kindle store. Bravo! What a beautifully written and moving story.
Since it had many of the elements most important in my life (love story, massage and issues of faith), I almost feel like the story was written for me.
Until now, I had never read any of your books, but am quickly downloading them all to my Kindle for my holiday reading.
I am not sure of your background and interests, but I would highly encourage you to consider writing some stories that did not have any sexual scenes in them. Just reading this story makes me feel that you would be able to write a wonderful story that could be given to young people struggling with their sexuality, or to parents struggling to understand their children’s sexuality, or even religious folk trying to understand people who consider themselves to be religious and LGTB.
While I must admit that I did enjoy the scenes between Levi and Jamie, as well as those in the backroom of the bar, not everyone is ready for that! While my mother (a woman in her 80′s) would be mortified by all that ‘action’, I know that reading about Levi and Jaime’s relationship would have been as beneficial for her as it was for Levi’s parents.
I look forward to reading the rest of your books!
Marie Sexton
/ November 8, 2011Hi Chaz, and thanks for your comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed Between Sinners and Saints. Somebody else recently suggested that I try my hand at YA GLBT fiction. Although it’s not what I’m working on now, I certainly haven’t ruled anything out.
I don’t think any of my other works are quite the same as Saints, but I very much hope you enjoy them, too.
Thanks again!
Del March
/ October 21, 2011Hello, Ms Sexton.
I found this book while browsing a list of recommended m/m romance books. As a lapsed Mormon (think of me as what Rachel could become as she kept discovering new ways in which the Church’s hard line is hurting innocent people), the words used in the title could not help but draw my attention right away. I read the inside peek offered on Amazon, and was immediately hooked by the incredibly realistic feel of the conversation between Levi and Ruth. I had hopes that finally, a book would manage to tackle the painful issue of being/having a gay son in an LDS family, without resorting to stereotypes, bashing, or black-and-white thinking.
You delivered beyond my wildest hopes.
I feel like crying when I think of the utter *respect* you showed for everyone, and everyone’s position, in this heart-breaking family situation. Nobody comes out as a bad guy, no matter how bigoted or intolerant their opinion might be, no matter how much their words or actions might hurt Levi and Jaime, and that’s something I never thought I could actually hope to find in any book, let alone a m/m romance book. The way Levi and his father eventually partially reconcile even though neither of them actually changes their mind on the fundamental aspect of homosexuality being or not a sin, rings so true it takes my breath away. So did Rachel’s story arc: the Perfect Party Spouter who suddenly is confronted to a horrifying fact that breaks her heart, hits so close to home it’s almost painful to read. And Nancy, and Ruth, and Caleb, Jacob, Isaac and all the others: I *know* them! They are real. They are some of the many ways LDS happen to be, and the fact that your narrative never condemns ANY of them, no matter what, makes me feel like crying, because never before have I felt so accepted as a former hardline Mormon who can’t really stop identifying as a Mormon somewhere deep down even though I disagree with so much of the doctrine now – I certainly understand Levi on that particular aspect…
The way you delve into LDS doctrine without ever sounding like you condemn any of it as nonsensical also touched me a lot. You mentioned it all: polygamy, garments, Prop8, kingdoms of heaven, and so on and so forth – everything people associate with Mormons, and everything that’s relevant to the issue of gay family members. And yet, even though it’s usually a former Mormon – who has ample reasons enough to be incredibly bitter about all of this, too – explaining all of it to a non-Mormon, it never ever feels like mocking or condemnation. This incredible and humbling level of respect is one of the thousands of reasons why this former Rachel just can’t agree to separate the world into Saints and Sinners any more: because if the author of this book is a sinner, then I don’t want to be a saint.
As for the romance part: this is like the Healing Cock done right, which plays on so many of my yearnings, it’s not even funny! A broken soul learning to trust, a bitter selfish soul learning to care for another, and both finding healing in what the other gives: that’s got to be the dynamics I most enjoy in everything I read and write, and this book was no exception. I melted and cheered as Levi worked hard on both himself and his relationship with Jaime to make *Jaime* happy first and foremost – and found self-respect, peace and happiness in the process -, and I most definitely cried as Jaime allowed himself to find comfort and safety in Levi’s care, and then cheered when he found the courage to confront his fears and tell his past to go get screwed, he would *live* already, dammit! Such a beautifully written romance, without any rushing, without any overlooking of the necessary steps and the occasional falls. Amazing, simply amazing.
So thank you Ms Sexton, for writing this book. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Marie Sexton
/ October 21, 2011Hi Del. Thanks so much for your comment. I can’t tell you how glad I am that you not only enjoyed the book, but could relate to it, and understood what I was trying to do.
When I started Between Sinners and Saints, I had no intention of writing about religion at all, but Levi was determined to go that way. Once I committed to writing about the Mormonism, it was very important to me to be honest and true to both sides of the story. I know some readers have been frustrated that Levi’s family didn’t have some huge 180 degree change of heart at the end, but that wasn’t what this story meant to me. I needed it to be more real than that. So many of my family members are still Mormon, and although we disagree on certain things, the fact is that they are all GOOD people. Each and every of them would give you the shirt off their backs. They’re loving, sensitive, and compassionate. And yet, some of their beliefs are so profoundly contrary to my own, it’s hard for me to understand. It’s a dichotomy that can be hard to reconcile. It was very important for me to find a middle ground that felt true for everyone involved.
As an author, it’s never easy to tell if one has achieved one’s goal or not, but it means so much to receive a comment like yours, and to find out that people really did connect to the story, and find something worthwhile in it.
I’m sure none of my Mormon relatives will ever read this book, but I hope that if they do, they’ll feel I was fair. I also hope (of course) that it will make them reconsider some of their beliefs about what exactly qualifies as “sin”.
Thanks again very much for your comment!
Marie
Scott
/ October 10, 2011WOW! What a great read, found it on a rare rainy weekend here in Colorado read it in one sitting! HAd a few happy tears also, just WOW!
Marie Sexton
/ October 11, 2011Thanks so much, Scott! I’m really glad you enjoyed it!
CarlaM2190
/ September 9, 2011This is one of the best romances of any kind that I have ever read. I loved it so much, I read it again immediately. The characterizations were wonderful and so believable. I definitely would love another book with these characters. I read this book as a loan but am planning to purchase to put in my personal library. I also just finished Promises and loved that as well. Thank you!
Marie Sexton
/ September 9, 2011Thanks so much, Carla! I really appreciate your comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed them both.
Susan
/ July 21, 2011I don’t usually leave comments or whatnot on websites – it always seems a little odd to me, but I just had to congratulate you on a teriffic book. You were recommended to me by a friend and I’m happy he did! I love your Coda series and how you create truly human characters (especially Matt and Jared), but this one even surpasses the Coda series. I’m thrilled that your ending was not contrived – it really felt believeable (and for a jaded romance reader like myself that’s saying something!) Had you wrapped everything up in cotton batting and resolved all the sub-conflicts, it would have been too trite. Congratulations on the perfect balance of compromise.
Keep up the good work and I hope there’s a sequel in the future…
Marie Sexton
/ July 21, 2011Thanks so much, Susan! It was hard to find an ending that felt right and true for all the characters, without being too trite, but still hoping the reader walked away feeling satisfied. I’m really glad it worked for you. And thanks for breaking your rules and leaving a comment!
Brandi
/ July 13, 2011So I have read all your books and loved them.. but this one is special. One of my favorite books ever…. not just for this genre. So thank you!! I hope to see a sequel
Marie Sexton
/ July 13, 2011Thanks so much, Brandi! I appreciate that. It’s possible there will be a sequel some day.
graziella
/ July 6, 2011Once again, a very beautiful story that made me cry a bit sometimes. I was simply touched by both characters as they are both beautiful. I must say I’m never disapointed by your books and when one is out, I just can’t wait to buy it. And I mean the real book! I was totally hooked and what I really liked, is that you really know how to build slowly both a story and relationships like you did in Promise. The plot in “Between sinners and saints” is the kind of emotional one I like to read. Once again, thank you and I can’t wait to read your next one. A French read.
Marie Sexton
/ July 6, 2011Thanks so much! Levi and Jaime really came alive for me. I had a lot of fun with them. I’m so glad you enjoyed their journey.
Svblix
/ June 8, 2011Oh my gosh! Just finished Between Sinners and Saints and I loved it but I gotta say that I was not expecting it to turn out like it did. I found I loved it even more because it wasn’t even the least bit predictable like some other books by other authors. I have not found one of your stories of books that I didn’t love. I really hope you do a sequel to this one soon and do one for Jon and Cole cause I wanna see if Cole does get his secret wish of becoming a daddy. Keep up the awesome writing.
Marie Sexton
/ June 8, 2011Thanks Svblix! I’m really glad you liked it.
Mel Linton
/ June 2, 2011I’m over halfway finished with this book. I love it! I’m taking my time reading it because I don’t want it to end…..
Marie Sexton
/ June 2, 2011Thanks Mel! I’m really glad you’re enjoying it so far!
jessica
/ June 1, 2011hi love your books just bought this one will read today it sounds really good thanks
Marie Sexton
/ June 1, 2011Thanks Jessica! I hope you enjoy it!
Laura
/ May 31, 2011Marie, all I can say, is you NEVER disappoint! What an incredible story you gave us. I never fail to fall in love with your characters. Thank you for all your hard work. Can’t wait for whatever is next!
Marie Sexton
/ May 31, 2011Thanks so much, Laura. I’m really glad you enjoyed it!
Courtney
/ May 31, 2011Any idea when this one will be released on Amazon for Kindle?
Courtney
/ May 31, 2011Never mind, I found the answer with a little more looking… my bad.
Marie Sexton
/ May 31, 2011No problem!
I really do hope it happens soon!
joy
/ June 1, 2011when is sinners and saints going to be available for the kindle on amazon? can anyone tell me?
Marie Sexton
/ June 1, 2011Hi Joy! I don’t know for sure when or even if it will be available for Kindle on Amazon. Here is what the publisher tells me:
So, my fingers are crossed that it will be sooner rather than later, but there’s no way of knowing for sure. If you buy directly from Amber, the PRC version is Kindle-compatible.
Thanks!!
joy
/ June 1, 2011Thanks. I love your books and am always very, very excited when new ones come out.
Julia
/ May 30, 2011Hi Marie:
Once again, you have managed to hijack my best laid plans and good intentions for a full night’s sleep. “Saints and Sinners” managed to overcome a full glass of pinot noir and a couple of benadryl, leaving me bug-eyed, wistful and hot and bothered at 4 am. I can’t figure out if you’re using your superpowers for good or evil at this point.
Nonetheless, a superpower it is, so thank you for yet another rich, insightful, compassionate and uncompromising story. You have the ability pinpoint the central thrust of your characters’ needs and damage and to stick ruthlessly to the trajectory of their emotional course…there’s almost an inevitability about what they must do and where they will end up (though often I can’t predict what or where that will be until I reach the scene or story’s end, where it suddenly is flagrantly obvious after the fact and how do you do that??)…and yet you navigate the structure and flow of your prose and dialogue with such delicacy, your characters begin to glow and then flame out into a kind of soul beauty on the page that can only come from an author who truly loves her boys.
Okay, that was a bit of unwieldy waxing forth, but what I’m trying to say is this: as a writer, you have my trust. I know you’ll hand me two achingly beautiful men, a mishmash of intriguing circumstances and unexpected people, and a plausible conflict. You’ll pace the story to fit the needs of the characters (and thus, your reader). You’ll take a hard line with what seems true to you about your men, even at the risk of alienating some of your readers. You’ll back of your characters’ claims to expertise and competency with skillfully interwoven research. You’ll let us see why your guys not only are attracted to each other but need each other in a vitals-gripping, can’t-live-without-it way that always leaves me terrified at their vulnerability to loss and ready to pound into the ground anyone who would threaten their hard-won dynamics of loving each other in whatever way works for them. Be it Matt and Jared, Jonathan and Cole, Zach and Angelo, or now Levi and Jaime, I trust you not to give me the way I think the world should work, but how the world should be for these men, based on who you’ve told me they are and how hard they’ve fought to get to a place of loving each other with open honesty.
In short (hah!), I trust you to be authentic…and to write with a seamless, elegant flow that won’t yank me out of the moment to step over a steaming clump of Awkward Phrasing, or to avoid an unexpected Head Jump or low hanging twist of wretched Stating The Obvious. When I read you, I forget I’m reading.
Can you tell this sort of thing doesn’t happen often for me?
To put it another way, you give good head, cerebrally speaking. Um…yeah.
So thank you for Mormons and Massages and Miami…and my silly, sleep deprived grin all day today.
Leviticus, my ass. God, that was funny….
Best,
Julia
Marie Sexton
/ May 30, 2011Hi Julia! Thanks so much for your comment. What a wonderful compliment! The truth is, when the story is really, truly flowing, I have no choice but to follow where my boys lead. I’m so glad to hear that their stories ring true. That means so much. I hope they’ll continue to feel authentic to you and that I’ll continue to be worthy of your trust.
Also, hope you get caught up on your sleep!
Thanks again!
Marie
Katrin
/ May 29, 2011I`ve been waiting impatiently for this book. i load the book 00.05
and i`m not dissapointed … i love the story and i love jaime and levi.. thank you marie !
Marie Sexton
/ May 29, 2011Thanks so much, Katrin! I’m so glad you liked it!
Eden Winters
/ May 27, 2011You mean I have to wait to buy it? I’m ready now, after reading the five-star DIK review at ReviewsbyJessewave. Congratulations!
Marie Sexton
/ May 27, 2011OMG. What?! *runs off to look*
Svblix
/ May 13, 2011Wait I’m confused where and when will Between Sinners and Saints be out as an ebook I really want to buy it.
Marie Sexton
/ May 13, 2011The ebook will be released on May 29th by Amber Allure. The paperback will follow at some point after that.
Becky
/ May 4, 2011As a former massage therapist, I can tell you that really does happen sometimes. Spontaneous crying and laughter, too. Therapeutic touch can draw out some pretty startling reactions.
Marie Sexton
/ May 4, 2011You know, that’s exactly how a great deal of this story was born. I asked my massage therapist about that, and she said, “Yes, it happens.” And when I asked how she dealt with it, she said something like, “A sudden, sharp change of pressure will usually do the trick.” And my little writer brain went, “Aha!!” (Like Jaime, my massage therapist is the tiniest bit sadistic.)
Salem
/ May 3, 2011Does anyone know if this is going to be in ebook only or will this be in print?
I hope it’s in print. *crosses fingers*
Marie Sexton
/ May 3, 2011Hi Salem! This book WILL be available in print, although I don’t know exactly when. It could be as early as May 29, or it could be anywhere from one to three weeks later, but definitely it will be in paperback by the end of June.
nix
/ March 8, 2011Hi-
Any news on when this one will be released and by whom?? I always look forward to reading your work.
Marie Sexton
/ March 9, 2011No word yet. Unfortunately. I really hate waiting! :-/
I do expect to know more in the next couple of weeks, so cross your fingers for me.
Thanks!
Olivia
/ January 25, 2011I must say I have never gave much thought to reading man on man romance but I’ve been searching your sight and Im in love your work is amazing and I am hooked.
Marie Sexton
/ January 25, 2011I’m so glad to hear it! Honestly, once you go m/m, I doubt you’ll ever want to go back!
Louis
/ January 25, 2011Hi Mrs. Sexton
OMG this story looks likes its going be awesome Mrs. Sexton! Lol and wow that picture of Levi is absolutely incredible….he kind of reminds of David Gandy
- Anxiously awaiting the release
Louis
Marie Sexton
/ January 25, 2011Isn’t he HOT? Phew!!
Marie Sexton
/ January 26, 2011Funny story (maybe):
I didn’t actually know who David Gandy was. Had to Google him. Turns out I already had a couple of pictures of him in my Tumblr. Very hot.
hnnaah
/ January 16, 2011Im looking forward to this one as well
Marie Sexton
/ January 16, 2011Thanks!! I hope to have more info soon on who will publish it and when, but it could be a couple more months before I know for sure. Sometimes I think waiting is the worst part of this job!
RJ
/ November 10, 2010Ha! These two sound like a lot of fun! Looking forward to reading their story.
UKSandy
/ October 27, 2010Marie – will this book be out for Christmas?
Marie Sexton
/ October 27, 2010Not a chance in hell, unfortunately. At this point, I’ve submitted it to a publisher but haven’t heard from them yet. Best case scenario would be next spring, but realistically, probably next summer or fall is more likely. Apparently I need to write faster!
UKSandy
/ October 27, 2010Marie – no pressure – but yes please write faster! LOL
Latin
/ October 26, 2010Looks great! Can’t wait to read more bout them. Will you be posting more tidbits uri it’s released?
Marie Sexton
/ October 26, 2010I’m not sure, to tell you the truth, but anything’s possible.
I just submitted it to a publisher today, so cross your fingers for me that I hear back sooner rather than later. I hate waiting!
Adara
/ October 21, 2010*laughs* Cute scene. =)
Marie Sexton
/ October 21, 2010Jaime and Levi are a lot of fun.