⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5 STARS💫⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Somebody decided to step outside of their comfort zone and veer away from the typical romance books they normally write.

Who?…Adriana Locke, that’s who….that’s what I’m talking about!

I don’t know who she was talking to when she decided to try something different, but I sure as hell hope she keeps them around. Sacrifice by Adriana Locke proved to me that she can and has the ability to be more than just a cookie cutter romance author.

I’m going to keep it pretty and messy with this one, so bear with me.

We will start with a note from the author…

Synopsis

My life changed forever the night my husband died.

I was left with a shattered heart, a heap of bills, and our daughter, EVERLEIGH. I don’t want to rely on anyone, least of all CREW GENTRY. He’s my first love and the man who almost destroyed me, the man who has let me down every time I’ve needed him.

But when tragedy strikes a second time, Crew just might be my only hope.

My life changed forever the night my brother died.

I was left with a guilty conscience, a pile of mistakes, and little else. I take care of JULIA GENTRY, my brother’s widow and the love of my life, and their daughter. I know she doesn’t want my help, but she gets it anyway. I owe her that.

When another disaster hits, I’m given the opportunity to make things right. I’m taking it. I’m willing to sacrifice it all.

A STANDALONE ROMANCE from USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke.

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Before I get started, I have a little something I want to get out to Adriana Locke, not that she will likely read it. Well, here it goes… Where has the woman who wrote this book been? Has she been hiding, waiting for a chance to show up and show out. I love this writer. I love reading this writer’s story. I would love to read another book by this writer. Note that the swoon worthy, alpha male stories that you usually write about aren’t good books because I’ve enjoyed most of them (not all) but this version of you is exceptional and I want to see more of her.

Let’s get messy…

This is not your sweet, hearts and flowers kind of love story. It’s grimy and deep and true and real. If you are looking for a light read, then this is not the book for you. But if you are looking for a book they may cause real emotions and you’re ready to put your feelings out there, here you go.

Sacrifice is the perfect name for this book. Everything was on the line and it was only real love and sacrifice that could save everyone.

…When you’re left alone, your world ripped from under you, you start fighting.

Fighting to live. 

Fighting to survive.

Frighting to protect what little you have left. – Crew

I’m not normally one who likes reading books that involves the suffering of children in any form but this story was beautiful to me. This book drew me in from the very beginning.

Julia is a beautiful and unbelievably strong mama who is fighting everyday to survive and provide for her 5 year old daughter, Everleigh. Which by the way is the cutest name – besides Ava of course because that’s my daughter’s name. Julia is a wonderful portrayal of what a woman looks like when they’re backed into a corner. I personally believe that there is anything stronger in the world than a mother fighting for her children.

Crew is a man who has a world of guilt on his shoulders. His pain is literally pouring off the pages. It was impossible for me to not love him and wish him the best in life. I found myself rooting for a man who may or may not have been responsible for the suffering of loads of people – it’s really how one views the situation. Like how his actions pushed Julia into the arms of another man in the past.

Julia was Crew’s first love and his only love. Crew was Julia’s first love but when he left her many years ago, his brother, Gage became her  next love.

When push came to shrug Crew was tested to see if he could be the man others thought he could be. But he refused to leave his family’s side. He worked tiredly doing back breaking work for long hours to ensure those he loved could have everything they needed.

It was very obvious to everyone that Crew loved Julia, but he respected his brother, Gage, who was also Julia’s deceased husband, enough to keep his feelings a secret. But you can’t hide love no matter how hard you try. His regret ate him alive everyday. He wanted the ability to love her in the open, but didn’t know how to get there.

Whether or not Crew was willing to express his true feelings for Julia made no difference in him taking care of her and Everleigh. What I admired about him as a man was that whenever Julia would push him away and refuse his help, he never left. To him it was non-negotiable.

Julie never believed that Crew would stay. She believed that he would abandon Everleigh and wanted to make sure he never got a chance to disappoint her. But at the end of the day, when push came to shrug, her ex-husband Gage, knew that Crew would man up and never leave.

I really enjoyed getting to know Gage through the eyes of Julia and Crew, it was quite fascinating.

At one point during the story life knocks these two down and this is where Crew has to step up or sit the fuck down. Personally, I never questioned Crew’s ability. Crew would put his life on the line and do anything and everything that needed to be done in order to make sure Julia and Everleigh got what they needed. Literally…his life, his sacrifice.

Julia’s fight became his fight. There isn’t anything sexier than a loyal man. That is a panty dropping quality right there!!! 🙂

“We are in this together. For as long as I live, every battle you face is mine, too.” I say, leaning in like I’m telling her a secret. “I’m one helluva fighter.” – Crew

That’s not too surprising because Crew has loved Julia ever since they first met her as teenagers. I found myself mesmerized by these two.

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I’m about to get really fucking messy here. This doesn’t mean I didn’t like the book, it’s just something I could never be okay with outside of the book world. With that being said, the situation worked for this book.

I liked Gage, Crew’s brother, but if I walked in on my sister and my ex-man cuddled up together we would have a big fucking problem. I don’t give a fuck if I thought my sister could be a better woman for him or not, you don’t do no shit like that. Period. Point blank.

“Then let me fucking talk and I won’t have to repeat myself. You’ve moved on. You jetted outta here and did your thing and didn’t bother to call, send a fucking letter, let anyone know what was going on with you. But you expect her to be sitting here waiting on you to pop in?” – Gage

Expecting her to wait until got his shit together wasn’t fair, but I wouldn’t have thought she would be in his brother’s bed. Let my sister do some shit like that. Fuck. That. She couldn’t even do it if the dude was just a weekend hook-up, let alone a man I love.

“Come on, Crew,” Gage sighed. “Don’t even act like that.”

I looked at him like he was fucking crazy. How in the hell could he have the nerve to tell me, ‘Don’t even act like that’? After seeing him with my girl? Fuck. That. – Crew

…I love Julia. and when I got past the anger of seeing her with someone else – he was the only one I wanted her with. I knew Gage. He was the only guy that would ever be close to being good enough for her. He’d be loyal to her, do everything he promised her. I knew this because he’d always done that for me. – Crew

…expect when he was fucking your girl – but that’s a whole other story. Yeah, ok. Sure. But maybe it’s just me.

Here’s the thing – my sister wouldn’t even think about doing no shit like that. It’s just wrong.

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If you couldn’t tell already, I was enthralled by this book and would recommend it for those who aren’t looking for a cookie cutter story. If you want to see what Adriana Locke can do when she’s not writing little sworn worthy, typical books – here you go.

I hope I wasn’t to messy and at least kept it a wee bit pretty.

TTYL lovers!

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