For years my life was in a state of Adjournment…
Fate had constructed a plan to push me away… to save me…
There was a danger I never knew existed, one I had never sensed.
My family positioned themselves around me.
Like Hanging Pawns, they shielded me from it and I lived blissfully unaware… until now.
Now, I know there are rules to this game...
Sacrifices to be made in order to get to End Game.
What would I Sacrifice for one more moment... one last look? Touch? Kiss?
The answer is simple…
Everything.
Chapter 1
Ignorance isn’t always bliss…
How did I get here? Not this specific seat
exactly… I mean here, in this part of my life, where I never would have
considered being. I know the events that led me here—my sisters moving back, my
parents’ vow renewal, and a weekend that I could have practiced better control.
exactly… I mean here, in this part of my life, where I never would have
considered being. I know the events that led me here—my sisters moving back, my
parents’ vow renewal, and a weekend that I could have practiced better control.
Could have.
I won’t deny it to myself that I wanted it to
happen. I won’t deny it to you either…but Simon…
happen. I won’t deny it to you either…but Simon…
Well, he doesn’t need to know the truth. He’d be
smug and pompous…or should I say he’d be himself. Simon was right about one thing,
though. He said nothing about this game would be simple, and so far, it isn’t.
If it was, the game would be over by now, and I would be sitting somewhere else
having breakfast instead of waiting for him to join us.
smug and pompous…or should I say he’d be himself. Simon was right about one thing,
though. He said nothing about this game would be simple, and so far, it isn’t.
If it was, the game would be over by now, and I would be sitting somewhere else
having breakfast instead of waiting for him to join us.
Raising my coffee to my mouth, I sit here trying
to ignore the pleas of Mea while we wait for everyone to get here.
to ignore the pleas of Mea while we wait for everyone to get here.
“Please,” she asks.
“No.” I lean back in my seat staring at her.
“Please.” I watch her cup her hands and bring them
up to her chest as she pleads.
up to her chest as she pleads.
“No.”
Here it comes…I can see the anger building, the
slight twitch in her eye starting.
slight twitch in her eye starting.
“Why not?” She drops her hands and her voice
becomes louder than it was a few seconds ago.
becomes louder than it was a few seconds ago.
Because bothering you is so much fun.
“Because I don’t like women…and I don’t want an
assistant,” I tell her.
assistant,” I tell her.
“Well, you do want an assistant,” Lexi mumbles.
“See!” Mea points to Lexi. “I’ll be so good! I
follow you around anyway, and I hate women, too!” She bounces in her chair.
follow you around anyway, and I hate women, too!” She bounces in her chair.
“I know. You’re like a lost little puppy.” My face
wrinkles when she starts the face. “Did you forget? You’re Josh’s assistant,” I
remind her for the millionth time. “How are we going to explain why you’re
suddenly mine?”
wrinkles when she starts the face. “Did you forget? You’re Josh’s assistant,” I
remind her for the millionth time. “How are we going to explain why you’re
suddenly mine?”
We aren’t because she has no answer to that. For
months, she’s been Josh’s assistant on set. Actually, if I’m being truthful,
she has years of being Josh’s assistant under her belt.
months, she’s been Josh’s assistant on set. Actually, if I’m being truthful,
she has years of being Josh’s assistant under her belt.
Am I using that as a scapegoat?
Umm, yes!
I have to put up with her all day everyday anyway.
I don’t need her as an Ass, too.
I don’t need her as an Ass, too.
“I’m bored with Josh,” she whines, ignoring my
question.
question.
That’s nice…I’m sure your husband would like to
know he bores you at work.
know he bores you at work.
“Fine,” I
groan, taking another mouthful of coffee.
groan, taking another mouthful of coffee.
“Really?” Mea’s voice is so happy, so filled with
joy.
joy.
Stupid question.
“No,” I smirk into my mug so she can’t see me.
It’s not that I don’t like Mea…I like her a lot,
actually. She’s just so much fun to tease.
actually. She’s just so much fun to tease.
“You’re a jerk,” Mea pouts.
See? Look at that lip. So. Much. Fun.
“We’ve been coming here every Sunday for weeks and
every Sunday it starts out the same. Could you just tell her yes and be done
with it.” Lexi’s head falls over the back of her chair.
every Sunday it starts out the same. Could you just tell her yes and be done
with it.” Lexi’s head falls over the back of her chair.
Once again, the problem isn’t her being my Ass.
It’s the fact that she is already Josh’s and further more… the girl knows
nothing about make-up.
It’s the fact that she is already Josh’s and further more… the girl knows
nothing about make-up.
“I don’t
know why you want to be my assistant. Like you said, it’s same thing you do
now…just follow me around and look busy. Why do you need the title?” I look out
the restaurant window, searching for the rest of our group.
know why you want to be my assistant. Like you said, it’s same thing you do
now…just follow me around and look busy. Why do you need the title?” I look out
the restaurant window, searching for the rest of our group.
“Because when I tell people I’m your assistant, it
won’t feel like a lie.” She grabs a menu to look through it.
won’t feel like a lie.” She grabs a menu to look through it.
Wait, what?
“I…you…,” I try to think of something to say.
What a freaking jerk! She just admitted to lying
to everyone about being my Ass.
to everyone about being my Ass.
Wait…this makes sense now. Every time someone
mentioned giving something to my assistant, I laughed and said yeah.
mentioned giving something to my assistant, I laughed and said yeah.
Dammit! Mea took total advantage of my ignorance!
“This doesn’t make us friends.” I glare at her,
still trying not to laugh.
still trying not to laugh.
Do I get a say in anything?
“Never.” Mea smiles.
I feel like that answers both my verbal and mental
question.
question.
“It doesn’t mean we’re going to be friends,
either. We aren’t going to chitchat and gossip. I’m not about to play dress up
and do your make-up.” I put my mug down on the table to wiggle my fingers
through the air.
either. We aren’t going to chitchat and gossip. I’m not about to play dress up
and do your make-up.” I put my mug down on the table to wiggle my fingers
through the air.
“So, cuddling is off the table too, then,” she
asks catching me off guard.
asks catching me off guard.
Beg your pardon…
“Why the hell would we need to cuddle?” I ask, and
Lexi begins to laugh.
Lexi begins to laugh.
“Well, say I’m stuck at your apartment because
there’s so much snow outside. Does a sleepover count as all of those things?”
She looks at us.
there’s so much snow outside. Does a sleepover count as all of those things?”
She looks at us.
Pressing my lips together, I try to make sense of
what she just said.
what she just said.
“Why the frig would you be at my apartment?” I
question her.
question her.
“Well, why not?” She looks at me then Lexi, whose
body is being jolted around by laughter.
body is being jolted around by laughter.
“I…I honestly have no answer that you would
accept,” I breathe out, exhausted.
accept,” I breathe out, exhausted.
“Okay. Can I ask one more question, though?” Mea
beams.
beams.
“Just one?” I wait for it, trying to mentally
prepare myself for the next bizarre thing she might spout out.
prepare myself for the next bizarre thing she might spout out.
I think my eye is starting to twitch.
I need a cup.
Reaching down into my bag, I pull a few out.
“Eh, it depends on your answer…” She looks behind
me.
me.
“Fine, go ahead.” I turn to see everyone walking
over to us, as I unwrap my medication.
over to us, as I unwrap my medication.
“What if that did happen?” she asks.
That’s the same question with different words!
I’m going to have to make sure this girl never
gets the opportunity to come over. I’ll never get her out.
gets the opportunity to come over. I’ll never get her out.
“Then you can sleep on the couch or cuddle with
Lexi.” I point to Lexi.
Lexi.” I point to Lexi.
Sweet peanut buttery goodness…you’re the only one
who gets me.
who gets me.
“Sidney only cuddles when she’s drunk. Then she’ll
do all those things…play with your hair and gossip, the whole nine yards. Other
than that, she’s a stick in the mud,” Lexi laughs.
do all those things…play with your hair and gossip, the whole nine yards. Other
than that, she’s a stick in the mud,” Lexi laughs.
I must attract people like this.
“She’s going to make me be her friend, isn’t she?”
I ask Simon when he pulls out his seat next to me.
I ask Simon when he pulls out his seat next to me.
“I would love to tell you that you have a choice,
but I think she’s going to win this one.” He lightly pinches my cheek.
but I think she’s going to win this one.” He lightly pinches my cheek.
Releasing a heavy sigh, I agree.
“Thank you for
not lying to me.”
“Thank you for
not lying to me.”
***ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
5 Stars.
Damn you, Emersyn Vallis! How are you just going to leave me hanging like that... (CLIFFHANGER ALERT, CLIFFHANGER ALERT!!!) Have you ever walked into a sliding glass door because you thought it was open and it totally wasn't? How did you feel? Well, that is EXACTLY how the ending of Sacrifice left me feeling... (I still can not believe that shit happened..)
But I am getting ahead of myself....
(This is the third book in the Fate Series... You MUST read Adjournment and Hanging Pawns before you pick up Sacrifice because well, for one they are both amazing and two, you are going to be hella confused if you just decide to jump into this series on the third book...)
Sacrifice returns us to Sydney and Simon's POV's and as much as I LOVED Mea and Josh in Hanging Pawns-- well, I was so stoked to get back to Syd and Simon... (Because Simon is totes my Book Boyfriend...and Sydney's snarky inner thoughts are HILARIOUS!!) Anyway, Sydney has some MAJOR revelations in this book... and thankfully, she didn't lose her shit... (I, personally, would have lost my shit..) Although she doesn't think she is strong she is.. Really fucking strong... (I love that about her... that and her snarky, hilarious inner thoughts...)
Emersyn also let's us watch Sydney and Simon fall deeper in love...(although Syd is not ready to admit it yet..) & are totally in a committed relationship but.....there are like, no titles.. gotta keep it very Sydney. She can't just be in a relationship with Simon.. That is NOT the Sydney thing to do. They also have so VERY, VERY steamy scenes... (Like holy hotness, get me a fan that was intense steamy...) There is also love in the air for another certain Chandler sister...(EEK...so cute!!)
My favorite part of this book (besides the crazy plot twist at the end) was watching Sydney and Mea's friendship grow. They were twisted together and really had no choice in the matter but.....they totally have a choice when it comes to their friendship. Emersyn managed to make Mea Sydney's perfect balance. They are both equally entertaining but in their own ways. I love how Mea practically wore Sydney down...She didn't give her much of an option even though she tried to "fight" it..friendship or continuous pestering. (But Syd really liked her the whole time... she was just being Sydney...)
There is so much in the book.. Emersyn doesn't leave any detail out. She made sure that this glorious, crazy world of Chandler and McAllister was a place her readers could escape to (and be completely entertained!!) Every character, every scene, every detail scream Emersyn. I am in love with her writing style because she writes like a friend would talk. She makes you feel included in the story she created; like Sydney and Mea are your friends, too. There are still so many answers I am dying for, still so much I want for Sydney and Simon. I can not even begin to tell you how excited I am for End Game but even more than that. I am beyond excited to see what the future holds for Emersyn and her crazy, hilarious, twisty stories...
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Emersyn Vallis is a first time author with Adjournment being the first book in the Fated Series. Currently residing on the east coast with her husband and three children she is typically mistaken for being quiet and reserved her friends often describe her as a spastic spider monkey and always the first to be there with her quick wit to pull you back up when you’re feeling down. After reading as a hobby for most of her life it wasn’t until she had discovered R. L. Mathewson’s ‘Neighbor from Hell Series’ and Tara Sivec’s ‘Playing with Fire Series’ that she came up with the idea to fuse comedy and suspense together and her passion for writing was born.
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