Sweet Sacrifice (Soul Mate Tree #9)

Sebastian “Bash” Lockard died in Afghanistan after jumping on a grenade to save his comrades. However, his heroic act gave the former Navy SEAL a spot in heaven as an Archangel, and Bash struggles to cope with this. Although he is not human anymore, he still has all his human memories, including those of his wife, and it’s hard for him to let go. His widow Irene is still in mourning after Bash's death, two years after the fact. When she hits rock bottom, Sebastian appears before her and they share a night of love and passion. If Sebastian wants to stay with Irene, however, he’ll have to make the ultimate sacrifice. 

“Sweet Sacrifice” is the ninth book in the Soul Mate Tree series. There are no real issues with picking up this book prior to having read the rest of the series, as the plot is easy to follow. Both characters bring a lot of depth and personality to the table; their love feels real and strong, based on a deep bond and connection. Bash is the kind of hero readers will fall in love with — he is selfless to a fault, courageous and brave. He tends to venture into "Mary Sue" territory sometimes, however, and feels a little too perfect. The book’s strength is how it showcases grief — how real Irene’s loss feels and how well it is described. The writing is very compelling, and while the story has supernatural elements (like the angels), those of Irene’s grief and her struggles still feel very realistic. 

Majanka Verstraete