Thank you for the ARC. I was so excited to be chosen for this book as I’ve heard this author is great. I haven’t read anything by her yet so this was a first. It was a very slow burn. Good start, dragged on the middle and ok ending. This was not what I expected from this author but I will for sure try her other books in the future to see what all the hype is about.

A like for me! Typically love Mia Sheridan’s books but this one was just ok. I wasn’t hurrying to pick it up again but was invested in the story as a whole.

Thank you to @netgalley for a copy of Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan. The opinions expressed below are my own.

I really enjoy Mia Sheridan's books being that Archers Voice is one of my favorites. However, Heart of the Sun was a huge disappointment.

I reluctantly finished this book. The very beginning was great and held a lot of potential but around the 30% mark it just fell off for me. The plot was boring , I felt like I was just watching a very bad episode of an apocalyptic show. The FMC was boring, the MMC was boring, their relationship was boring and things didn't happen with them till like 75% in.

I mostly skimmed the last 30% of this book. It really was a waste of time for me.

“I’d find you in the dark.”

Listen, I am the worst at reading a synopsis, so this book was a rollercoaster ride for me. This is definitely one of the most unique romances I've ever read. It started off giving Reminders of Him vibes. The characters are childhood best friends, the MMC, Tuck, was just released from prison, and something seems to have gone down between them but you don't know what it is. Now, the FMC, Emily, is a famous popstar, who is giving Tuck a second chance by hiring him as her body guard. While in a plane, a solar flare hits the earth, sending the world into chaos. I haven't seen The Last of Us, so I kept picturing The Walking Dead minus the zombies. It almost felt like the author had an idea for three different books and thought, lets combine them all together. It actually works really well.

Here's why not reading a synopsis worked against me though... I was looking to read a cozy romance with a little bit of drama like Archer's Voice. The world is crazy right now and I was looking for a little bit of an escape. This was not that, however I did really enjoy this book outside of the existential dread it added to my life. Every day I try to tell myself I don't need a "go-bag" or an apocalypse kit, but this book chipped away at my refrain.

Tropes: Slow burn, childhood friends to enemies to lovers, popstar x body guard, dystopian/ post apocalyptic

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to read the ebook/audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

📖 Book Review 📖 How much of the part of childhood “you” do you still carry with you today? Emily and Tuck were thick as thieves growing up but a tragedy upended Tuck’s life and separated them. Thirteen years later, their paths finally cross again when pop singer Emily hires Tuck as her bodyguard, offering him a second chance after he has served time. But time and experiences change us and it quickly becomes clear that these two are not the same pair they were as teenagers. Could an apocalyptic solar flare that brings down their plane force the two to find the common ground they once shared? Heart of the Sun is a survivalist adventure paired with a second chance romance that hits all of the right notes.

Thanks Harlequin for the eARC/ALC!

I really loved the beginning of the book and was super excited to read more about Em and Tuck’s story but the longer it went on the more bored I got. 😅

I love second chance romance and that plot line was great but the entire dystopian journey home was SO boring. It felt like they were just doing the same thing over and over again just with different people.
The ending felt rushed - it seemed like an ending just to end. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Maybe this one wasn’t for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Mia is one of my top favorite authors, and I get excited every time she has a new book coming! She has a way of writing a book that sucks me in from the beginning and has me engaged till the end.

And of course I just knew I had to see about reviewing this one early after I had read the description. As soon as I picked up Heart Of The Sun I couldn’t put it down, it was just that good. Even though it was a slow burn (which I’m a little iffy about sometimes) I still thoroughly enjoyed it!

Mia is an author who brings us amazing characters who are such strong people that struggle with things that happen with real people. Every character she has written I have fallen in love with and I think each and every one of them are strong, Tuck and Emily included. They both had some good character growth overall, the span of the story.

A little about them is that both Tuck and Emily were childhood friends who found their way back to each other during a cataclysmic solar flare. This particular story is something I’ve never read before so I was a little skeptical going into it, but after giving it a chance I enjoyed it. Tuck is an ex-con while Emily is a rising pop star in need of security, where she brings on Tuck (talk about interesting). Their bond and relationship truly grows throughout the story, which is exciting (due to the slow burn of it all)

Overall I enjoyed the suspense as well as the emotional rollercoaster this story had on me. I highly recommend Heart Of The Sun, who is looking for a good read from Mia Sheridan that is unlike her other books!

I just want to say a huge thank you to both NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eArc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you for allowing me to read the ARC for this book.

I love Mia Sheridan as an author and was excited to read something a little bit different from her. This was a book about second chance romance in a dystopian world. I enjoyed the ride this book took me on and the connection between Tuck and Emily, I look forward to reading more of MIa Sheridan's books!

Tropes for this book include:
• Enemies to Lovers
• Childhood Best Friends
• Slow Burn Romance
• Second Chances
• Popstar + Bodyguard
• New Adult Dystopian fiction
• The HBO show The Last of U

ARC Review

I absolutely love Mia Sheridan, she is an auto buy author for me. Sadly, I just do not vibe with her suspense/non romance books.

This post apocalyptic story had a love aspect but it took a back seat. The main characters survive a plane crash to find the world is much different than when they took off and thet have to make their way home.

Unfortunately, this was very anticlimactic and kind of a snooze. I’m so sad that this wasn’t for me.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

This one didn't really work for me. I have loved every book of Mia's to date but this one felt like a hodgepodge of things that were never fully executed. Pains me to rate on her books 3 (even though 3 is not bad in my eyes - it's just not the standard I'm used to from Mia). The story was very interesting and I was intrigued from the start but I wasn't bought into the love story or the dystopian. I saw it through thinking it had to end up being a 5 star but in the end I just didn't love it.

Im a big fan of Mia Sheridan's work and also of the Last of Us, so this was a surprise! I enjoyed this book and will definitely be adding it to my library's collection. I did thing the middle got a little muddy but overall it was very good! Sheridan's writing is a true gem.

I have heard really good reviews for this author's previous work, so I was excited to receive an ARC for this book. When I read the synopsis of this book I was excited and couldn't wait to dive in. Sadly, it didn't work for me because I had trouble getting into the story. The pace dragged and the romance between the main characters was so tiresome that I didn't care if they were together or not. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

*Heart of the Sun* by Mia Sheridan blends second-chance romance with a post-apocalyptic adventure. It follows childhood friends Emily, a pop star, and Tuck, an ex-con, who reunite when Emily hires Tuck as her bodyguard after a solar flare plunges the world into chaos. As they fight for survival, their slow-burn romance builds beneath the surface, though Tuck’s emotional walls and self-blame keep them apart for much of the story.

The plot explores second chances, particularly for Tuck, as he seeks redemption after prison. However, I felt the FMC’s behavior was frustrating, and the romance, while compelling, was a bit too slow to develop. The story wrapped up quickly, leaving me wanting more between Tuck and Emily. Despite these issues, the book’s suspense and character development were strong, making it a solid read. I gave it 3.75 stars

I had some mild critiques in the beginning but it continued downhill with a completely unlikable FMC and snowballed into major issues with structure and plot and every single choice made through to the end. I barely finished it and wish I had quit before I even started.

Also, tell me you don’t understand Southern California roadways without telling me you don’t understand Southern California roadways… *points to this book*

I’m a big fan of this author’s romantic suspense novels, so I was curious to see her take on dystopian fiction.

While the book promised a variety of tropes, not all of them quite fit. The heroine was hard to warm up to, while the hero had a noble, self-sacrificing nature. The premise—Earth plunged into darkness after a solar flare wipes out power—was gripping and eerily plausible.

If I had to categorize it, I’d call it dystopian with a side of romance, though the heroine does have a boyfriend for the majority of the book.

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 ⭐⭐⭐

I've read Mia Sheridan books previously and was really excited for this! Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

A rockstar and an ex-con rekindle their childhood friendship in this dystopian romance. Embarking on a journey home after their plane goes down due to a solar flare, they must learn to trust each other to survive the aftermath.

This is a slow-burn romance - after reading some other reviews saying this isn't really a romance, I have to say I don't really agree. While it is not the entire focus, if you're paying attention to clues and dialogue, Mia paints beautiful character depth that continues to grow throughout the story.

The reason for my 3.5 rating is because I felt that for how long and detailed the book was, it ends so suddenly. I did not feel enough closure in regards to the following that could have been mentioned in the epilogue or could have come full circle:
1. Did it impact the entire globe (my assumption is yes, but this was never verified)?
2. Any sort of update regarding Hosea? Or the percentage of how much of the population had survived so far? The statistic was repeated a few times so I expected to learn something further later in the book.
3. Tuck had seen the article about the solar flare early in the book, but when it was happening it didn't seem to ever dawn on him. So I don't quite understand why this was mentioned, unless just to have the reader feel it's what is happening?

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a slow-burn love story with some action!

As a pretty fervent Mia Sheridan fan, I was so excited and honored to receive an e-ARC for this book. Apocalyptic love stories are my jam, and I had such high hopes for this story! All in all, I enjoyed the book, but it definitely isn’t my favorite Mia Sheridan work, and beyond that, the I found myself a little disappointed with the love story.

I loved the general layout of the book; reading about Tuck and Emily embarking on a dangerous quest across the United States without technology was very interesting! I thought this was a great way to allow Tuck to shine, and I always enjoy forced proximity.

I’m not an expert on solar flares, but it feels like Mia did a good job of creating a country affected by one. I thought the breakdown of society was realistic, albeit it depressing. The apocalyptic portions of this book were well done, imo.

Tuck is an amazing MMC. I really enjoyed him as a character and thought that his personal growth arc was incredible. In my opinion, he is absolutely the star of this book and in the end, I adored him.

My biggest complaint is the romance. There was just so much missing from the love story and I think the biggest reason for that was Emily’s boyfriend. They remained together far too long, which didn’t leave enough time for Tuck and Emily to be together. Considering the complexity of their situation, this allowed for very, very little time for their romance to develop. The romance seemed to lean on the character’s prior history, but I was craving more present-day development.

I absolutely loved this book! Tuck's character had so much depth, and I couldn't help but fall in love with him. It was fascinating to see Emily/Nova's true self and the contrast between her and "Nova." I enjoyed the celebrity aspect of her character, and the twists in the story truly shocked me. The author's writing made me feel like I was right there with the characters. I loved every moment of it!

Before I even saw the option to request this on NetGalley I had this saved as an anticipated book to come out this year. I am so thankful for the opportunity to read it early. That being said... As someone who has previously enjoyed many books by this author, I am sad to report this book was not it for me. The book reads like any 2010's disaster movie, but even slower. The first 40% of the covered what would have been in the first 15 minutes of a movie. I'm not exaggerating. I am someone who LOVES disasters/post apocalyptic/dystopian books and movies, but there was little difference between this and every other one of it's kind out there. The characters felt like over exaggerated archtypes and did not garner any real emotional response from the reader. The romance felt weak and unauthentic. Our MMC was taciturn in both internal and external monologues. As for production, the ARC version of the e-book had some formatting and grammatical errors. Yea… I didn't DNF it, but I felt like I was wading through mud to finish it.

Okay, so let me start by saing that I’m a *huge* Mia Sheridan fan. I’ve loved every book of hers I’ve read… until this one. It just didn’t have that usual Mia magic, and I can’t quite put my finger on why, but it fell flat for me.

The concept was super intriguing, but the execution? Not so much. The romance felt all over the place, the pacing dragged forever and then suddenly sped through the ending, and overall, it just felt kind of shallow. It had potential, but it was missing that heart and emotion that usually makes her books so special.

That said, the whole dystopian, end-of-the-world vibe was cool, and some scenes even had a creepy, almost horror-like feel, which I actually liked. The way society unraveled after the solar flare felt *way* too realistic, and those parts really stuck with me. But the book just didn’t seem to know what it wanted to be. It wasn’t really a romance until the last third, and even then, it wasn’t great. Some characters, like Charlie, felt pointless (seriously, why was he even there?), and I just wanted *more*, more action, more depth, more of that gripping storytelling Mia usually delivers.

It just didn’t feel like her usual writing, and I think that’s why it lacked the passion I love in her books. It wasn’t bad, just… not great. Honestly, I think it would work better as a movie. Would I recommend it? Ehh… maybe, but with caution.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC & ALC!