This was a very cute romance with a distinct different plot. I liked how I had to keep going in order to find out what happens at the end of this world ending plot.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy of Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan. I was really excited to read this book, but it unfortunately was not what I was expecting. This story begins with Tuck and Emily as young friends. Something lands Tuck in jail for a few years and when he is released Emily, now a famous singer, gives him a job as her bodyguard. While I didn’t really feel any connection to the characters, I had hope since I love the way Mia Sheridan can write her characters. However, the story suddenly took a sharp turn into almost apocalyptic territory, which caught me completely off guard and didn’t click with me. I ended up soft dnf-ing at the 30%ish mark This is my fault since it is labeled as a romance and sci-fi/fantasy.
I’m still undecided if I’ll go back and finish it, but for now, it’s not feeling like my kind of book. If you’re a Mia Sheridan fan like me, I’d still recommend her other books because they hit all the right notes, even if this one didn’t quite land.

The beginning of this book was strong! Childhood friends reunited after one gets out of jail and needs a job and the other is a pop star who coincidentally needs a bodyguard. Tuck was trying to assimilate himself back into society after prison, and Emily is chasing her dreams of being a singer.

As a dystopian survival novel I was hooked, the survival as they slowly hiked across the country to get back to California had me constantly turning the page. As well, as a romance I kept waiting for Tuck and Emily to discuss their relationship more as i wanted to see growth between. The romance felt very very slow burn and almost stood out as unnecessary in the world that was built. I also wasn't the biggest fan of Emily, her attitude and judgement of Tuck was hard to put up with as long as it continued. I did start to really enjoy them together as a couple the longer I listened.

I did enjoy what the author attempted to do here but unfortunately I just didn't enjoy the blend of the two, I wish I could have just read Tuck and Emily's story as a popstar + bodyguard romance (as I enjoyed that dynamic), or separately read a dystopian fiction novel about the power grid being completely knocked out. But the combo of the two just didn't really blend or work as well for me.

Mia Sheridan delivers yet another emotionally gripping and thought-provoking story, but this time, she ventures into dystopian territory—and does it with remarkable realism and heart. Heart of the Sun is unlike anything I’ve read before. The premise is terrifying in its plausibility, yet Sheridan grounds it in humanity and hope, making the journey feel both urgent and intimate.

Emily is a pop star, glamorous and adored, while Tuck is freshly out of prison, trying to rebuild his life. When Emily’s mother suggests hiring Tuck as her bodyguard to help him reintegrate, both are hesitant. Old wounds and lingering tension resurface—Emily, still caught in the emotional echoes of their youth, and Tuck, quietly ashamed yet determined to move forward.

Their dynamic shifts dramatically when the two—alongside Emily’s celebrity boyfriend—survive a plane crash. From there, the novel becomes a survival story, but more importantly, a story of rediscovery and redemption. As they navigate a world suddenly thrown into chaos, stripped of fame and status, Emily and Tuck are forced to confront who they truly are and what they mean to each other.

Tuck’s quiet strength and level-headed heroism shine, while Emily slowly unravels the emptiness of the life she thought she wanted. Their connection, forged in shared history and rekindled through hardship, is beautifully developed. Sheridan doesn’t rush their romance—it unfolds with tenderness, respect, and emotional authenticity.

Admittedly, the middle of the book dragged a bit as the survival encounters began to feel repetitive. Around the 70% mark, I was ready for the journey to progress toward resolution. Still, the emotional core of the story kept me invested, and Sheridan’s character work carried it through.

Though dystopian fiction isn’t usually my genre of choice, Heart of the Sun felt grounded and plausible enough that I didn’t have to suspend disbelief. The themes of resilience, forgiveness, and self-discovery resonated deeply, and the narration brought the characters vividly to life.

While it may not be Sheridan’s most unforgettable novel, Heart of the Sun is a powerful, hopeful story of two people finding their way back—to each other, and to themselves.

I enjoyed reading this book! Thank you so much publisher and netgalley for this ARC. This book is a mix of a dystopian novel and also second chance romance. I read both the audiobook and the arc copy and both were very enjoyable! The characters never fell flat and there was always something going on in the story so it never got boring. I will definitely be recommending this book to people.

✨ A Post-Apocalyptic Romance Full of Heart, Heat, and High Stakes ✨

This was such a fun and thrilling read! I loved how it kept me anticipating what would happen next. I was on the edge of my seat as I waited for Emily and Tuck to uncover the truth behind their plane crash and the eerie emptiness of the city. With no cars, no electricity, and the sky turning strange colors. Ughhh! I just looooove post-apocalyptic adventures!

At the core of this gripping journey is Emily Swanson, a rising singer who performs as Nova. When she unexpectedly reunites with her childhood crush Tuck Mattice after years of no contact, her entire world turns upside down. But wait, this isn’t just a simple romance, there are so many hurdles they have to overcome, both physical and emotional, as they face a rollercoaster of challenges together.

Heart of the Sun is a mix of breathtaking action, sizzling chemistry, gritty romance, trauma, healing, heroic love, betrayals, and raw truths. It reveals both the ugliness and the beauty of humanity. How desperation can bring out the worst in people, but also how some still choose kindness, trust, and love in the face of chaos. Mia Sheridan had my heart racing so much it felt like I’d downed multiple cups of coffee. This is my first read from her, and definitely not the last. I can’t wait to dive into Archer’s Voice next!

If you love dystopia, post-apocalyptic settings, intense emotion, and character-driven romance, I highly recommend this book.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for the opportunity to read this amazing love story and thrilling adventure with Tuck and Emily.

✨WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Tuck finally taking the risk to revisit his past
📌 Tuck and all his endless knowledge (Man, this guy is just lovable!)
📌 Tuck being the perfect Superman—rescuing everyone!
📌 Emily finally seeing the true colors of the people around her
📌 Emily’s mother never giving up on Tuck
📌 People who still go above and beyond to help others
📌 Humanity is still alive and kicking!

✨TROPES:
📌 Friends to Lovers
📌 Slow – Burn Romance
📌 Famous Singer x Ex-Convict
📌 Post-Apocalyptic Romance
📌 Second Chance
📌 Forced Proximity
📌 Protective Hero
📌 Survival Against All Odds
📌 Trauma & Healing
📌 Found Family
📌 Hope in the Darkness
📌 A Subtle Hint of Spice

3.75 This book was not what I was expecting but I still really enjoyed it. I am guilty of hearing about this author and looking at the cover and requesting this and I was not expecting what was coming. This book is a dystopian story about the power grids going out. We follow Emily and Tucker as they try to make it home after surviving a plane crash. There was very little romance in this book until the last quarter and by that time I just wanted to know what happened and was not really invested in their romance by then. The characters were great and the story was compulsive as I just wanted to know what happened next but I just didn’t care if these characters were friends or lovers. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

This was so much more than a romance book. We follow Emily and Tuck as they move through the country in search of safety, healing, second chances, and survival. This book shows the growth of the characters in a situation where they have no choice but to trust in each other and themselves. The story has some dystopian/apocalyptuc vibes, romance, murder, forgiveness, and survival.
Beautifully written!

I absolutely loved this book! I can’t wait to dive into more of her books. I loved the storyline and the characters were just perfect. Thank you for allowing me to read this early 🖤

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan is the bodyguard romance needed to be read.... This trope is catnip and readers will completely eat this up

So different from any of Mia’s others novels! I loved Archers Voice, so I had high hopes for this one. It wasn’t my favorite by her but appreciate her jump in switching up genres.

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan is a beautifully written novel that had me completely hooked from the beginning. As always, Sheridan’s prose is immersive and emotionally resonant—she has a rare talent for drawing readers in with her characters and storytelling.

I want to be upfront that I went into this book blind, and while I was initially captivated, the story eventually shifted into a dystopian direction that just isn’t my personal preference. This isn’t a reflection on the writing—Sheridan’s skill shines throughout—it’s simply a matter of genre not aligning with my tastes.

That said, for readers who enjoy dystopian fiction with depth and heart, I absolutely recommend this book. Mia Sheridan brings a unique voice to every story she tells, and Heart of the Sun is no exception. While it wasn’t quite right for me, I still rated it highly because of the quality of the writing and my continued appreciation for this author’s work.

Fans of Sheridan and dystopian tales alike will likely find much to love here.

In all honesty, I did not vibe well with this book. I usually LOVE Mia Sheridan books and I was excited for this one because of the dystopian themes. However, it wasn’t what I expected.

The premise is a solar flare takes out all electronics and Tuck and Emily and Charlie have to trek across the United States to get home. With just this description I was like sign me the f up. But, I felt a lack of connection with the book and characters. I was annoyed by most of the conversations and interactions.

I wanted to DNF but decided I wanted to see how it ended for Tuck. And it was ok.

The cool thing about this book, though, was the conversation I had with my husband about it and how we think we would fare if this really happened. Lets just say I would probably not make it

🖤🖤🖤🖤
4/5

WOW what a journey. I feel like I’ve been across the country and back. What a beautifully written romance novel that was so much more than just a romance. This was an emotional journey & one that I’ll think of often.

We follow along with Tuck & Emily after what seems to be a sole flare brings down their air plane & all electronics across the country. As they make their way back to where they grew up, after being newly reunited when Emily hires Tuck as her bodyguard. This book really gets into the psychological impact a nation wide disaster like this would have on humans. As well as the journey of rekindling love along the way.

What I loved…

💕 second chance romance & childhood friends to lovers are two of my fav tropes

💥 this is unlike any romance I’ve ever read. The aspect of living in this dystopian world really was so surreal. It made me think on such a deep level.

🗣️ duel POV between Emily & Tuck

🎶 I loved the prospective of music being used to persevere, to heal, & to rebuilt in life

⛓️ how the author depicted life after being incarcerated was well done & very interesting

☀️overall, I enjoyed this read & felt immersed into Tuck & Emily’s apocalyptic world

I loved this book! It jas two of my favorite things in it...distopian and romance. it was amazing! One thing I wanna know though is what happened to Charlie??

I absolutely love Mia Sheridan’s books, and Heart of the Sun is no exception. While it starts off a little slow, trust me—it picks up and becomes something really special. Just hang in there!

The story follows childhood friends Emily and Tuck, who reconnect years later under extreme circumstances. Emily is now a famous pop star, and Tuck is an ex-con trying to start over. When a massive solar flare throws the world into chaos, Tuck steps in to protect Emily, and old feelings quickly resurface.

Their relationship is full of tension, emotion, and growth. Mia Sheridan does a great job showing how love, trust, and healing can bloom even in the darkest times. The setting, characters, and emotional depth all come together beautifully.

In the end, Heart of the Sun is a touching and adventurous romance that reminds us how powerful second chances can be. If you’re a Mia Sheridan fan—or even if you’re not yet—you’ll want to read this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and @HarlequinTradePublishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan starts off by giving us a peek into the childhood of Emily and Tuck, two best friends who grow up in the orange groves of Southern California. The story then jumps ahead to the present day, where Tuck is out of prison and Emily is now a famous singer. The contrast between their worlds is captured really well. Tuck is struggling to move on from his past, while Emily, surrounded by yes-men, has become both self-absorbed and insecure, typical of the celebrity lifestyle.

The tension between them really kicks in when Emily’s mom convinces her to hire Tuck as a bodyguard. There’s a lot of friction here, as both characters carry a lot of judgment and blame toward each other. To make things even more awkward, Tuck has to deal with Emily’s movie-star boyfriend.

The real conflict unfolds when a disaster strikes—without giving too much away, their plane crashes, and suddenly, nothing is the same. The group is left to navigate an apocalyptic world as they travel from Indiana to California. It’s an interesting setup, but it never fully hooks you. The story stays mostly on the surface, and while we’re told about the characters’ emotions, it’s hard to really feel them. That lack of depth makes it tough to become deeply invested in their journey or in their relationship.

It’s good, but it doesn’t quite tap into the emotional depth you might expect from an author of this caliber.
3.5 Stars!
#NetGalley, #HeartofTheSun, #MiaSheridan, #HarlequinTradePublishing

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Theme: Slow Burn | Second Chances | Childhood Friends | Enemies to Lovers | Friends to Lovers | Forced Proximity | Dystopian
Genre: Romance | Sci Fi & Fantasy
Author: Mia Sheridan
Book Publication date: May 20, 2025
Page Count: 464 (Paperback)
Book Cover first thoughts: I love this cover, it is beautiful! Love the colors. Glad there are no cartoon characters or faces on it.

One Liner: Revolution meets a Hallmark romance movie
Story Review / Summary: This book starts off very slow. I was a little bored the first half. But it really did pick up middle way through and I started enjoying the story and introduction of new characters. After I got 1/2 way I finished the rest in the same sitting! I had to find out if Tuck got back to Emily. 

This was my first book by Mia so I will definitely read a another.

Link to book here -> https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Sun-Mia-Sheridan-ebook/dp/B0DFQBDGZV

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Thank you to #NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of #HeartofTheSun
by #Mia Sheridan @miasheridanauthor
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is May 20, 2025.
This review is being shared on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon(still pending).

I went into this book blind and not really knowing what the synopsis was about. I was so pleasantly surprised by the overerall plot. It kept me entertained throughout the entirety of the book as well as very much enjoying the love story between Tuck and Emily.

This book was intense, a cross between the Twilight Zone and Outter Limits, entertaining and strange all at the same time. It's not a book I would normally enjoy, and after reading a few of the reviews, I had my doubts, but I ended up really enjoying this book. Definitely had the romance intertwined in this sometimes difficult to read subject matter, and I enjoyed Emily and Tuck.

I guess we all wonder what the possibilities are with the future and the world today, this book certainly put a twist on that and gives you food for thought!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.