Sending a huge thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-arc and for Harlequin Audio for the ALC!

This was my first Mia Sheridan book and I was expecting so much more than what this was, and what it offered. I've had Archer's Voice sitting on my shelf for the longest time and now I wonder if the hype has gotten my expectations far too high. The expectations were far too high for this book! It just was not what I was hoping for, and it fell so short of everything I was expecting.

The characters were written in such a way that made me feel no connection to them whatsoever, and I really didn't care either. Emily was utterly annoying and insufferable for 85% of the book, and Tuck? I'm not sure if he had an personality whatsoever because he was so bland on the page... and. really his descriptors were only "brooding ex-con", and that just also didn't work. There was no depth of personality to any of the side characters either and I really didn't care about anyone. The romance was also just flat... considering it was supposed to be a second chance romance, I saw and felt no chemistry, no connection even. Where was the joy, the laughter, the witty banter? The rehashing of old memories? Something. It just was not a romance, and for a book that is marketed as a romance well it left a lot to be desired.

The pacing was also all over the place - all of the action stemmed from this problems that just spun out of nowhere and really had no desire to really be solved or fixed - they were just there and used as moments for the characters to be together?

The narrators didn't do anything to bring this book to life for me - I figured that listening to the book might help, and I just found myself getting more and more frustrated with each scene.

Overall this book was just not what I wanted or expected at all.- the characters were boring, the entire plotline was so slow and there was just no emotion whatsoever.

I first discovered Mia Sheridan when I was in school, but I didn’t really care for Archer’s Voice—so I was curious to see how this one would land. This story follows Emily, a famous popstar in need of protection, and Tak, her childhood best friend turned bodyguard and ex-convict, as they reconnect in a crumbling, dystopian world. The book leans on several tropes like enemies to lovers, second chances, and slow burn romance, and while I appreciated the theme of rebuilding a life after incarceration, I felt that second chances weren’t equally earned by both characters. The FMC’s behavior grated on me, and I struggled to connect with her. There was also a bit too much happening in the plot, which diluted some of the emotional impact. That said, I could see this translating better as a screen adaptation, and fans of The Last of Us might enjoy the gritty survival backdrop.

5 ⭐ 2 🌶️ 5 🎧

This was such a fantastic story. I don't read much post-apocalyptic stuff, but I found Mia's take equal parts heartbreaking and fascinating.

Tuck and Emily were really interesting characters and I loved them to bits. Tuck's backstory was so tragic, but the way Emily (and the apocalypse circumstances) helped him through it was really beautiful.

Some of these authors are way less petty than myself... I want to see the utter carnage of revenge when it comes to certain villain character arcs, but alas, there wasn't much to be found here. Thankfully Tuck and Emily's story ended beautifully and had me smiling ear to ear regardless.

The audio was great. André Santana and Annalee Scott did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life and I really enjoyed this listen.

First of all I would like to thank Mia Sheridan, Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to read/listen to this book. I was thrilled receiving both the ebook and audio and did a tandem read.
@miasheridan @netgalley @harlequin_audio

The narration was exceptional, making the characters come alive in a remarkable way. Mia Sheridan is among my favorite authors, and I eagerly dive into anything she creates, whether reading or listening. I truly enjoyed this audiobook. Andre’ Santana and Annalee Scott brilliantly brought Tuck and Emily to life.

☀️𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧
🔥𝐃𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
☀️𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬
🔥𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐱 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝
☀️𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
🔥𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬-𝐭𝐨-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬

✨𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈✨
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 is something truly beautiful about 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧’𝐬 storytelling. This novel is a breath of fresh air - imagine crash-landing into a literal hell as the world plunges into darkness.

𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, childhood friends and former neighbors, reunite under unexpected circumstances. Emily, now a very popular pop star, and Tuck, a man with a troubled past, are brought together when Tuck becomes Emily's bodyguard in a world thrown into chaos by a solar flare. Basic survival becomes the ultimate priority.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 struck me the most was the introspective nature of the narrative. In a world stripped of societal norms and material possessions, only the raw essence of humanity remains. Mia Sheridan delves deep into the essence of what it means to be human, forcing readers to confront their own values and strengths in the face of adversity. Although I typically steer clear of dystopian stories, this novel really nails it.

𝐈 was fortunate to experience an early audio version of the book, narrated by 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞́ 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭. Their performances added depth and emotion to the characters, making the story come alive.

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, if you're drawn to dystopian settings with a touch of romance, this audiobook is a must-listen. Thank you to 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 for this gifted audio copy. All opinions expressed here are my own.


𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒.𝟓⭐️ ✧ 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 𝟐.𝟓🔥 ✧ 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟒🎧

I wasn't a fan of Sheridan's most popular book, Archer's Voice, but I heard great things about this next release and decided to give it a shot! Unfortunately, it still fell flat for me. My biggest issue with this book was that it didn't;t engage me and I was bored. I didn't expect this because while I didn't like Archer's Voice, I still read it pretty quickly because it was engaging. I felt like it was missing the integral aspects of a romance - chemistry, tension, maybe a little bit of suspense. I felt like I had to drag myself through this, and this book is just too long for me to feel like that. Very unfortunate miss in my opinion, but it might be a hit for people who have loved Mia Sheridan's previous works!

Mia Sheridan is one of those authors where I have to read/listen to everything she puts out. So when I saw she had a sci-fi/fantasy book, I'll be honest, I was a little hesitant. It's not usually my go to genre.

But I was so pleasantly surprised! While it might not knock my all time favorite Sheridan book (Archer's Voice) off its pedestal, I liked it more than I anticipated.

The main characters, Emily and Tuck, were just lovely. The underlying romance that simmered throughout the story definitely kept me invested. The sci-fi and fantasy elements were interesting and definitely held my attention, although there were a few moments where the pacing felt a tad slow.

I listened to the audiobook, and let me tell you, the narrators, André Santana and Annalee Scott, were fantastic! They were new voices to me, but they did such a great job of bringing the characters and the story to life. I was completely engaged the whole time.

So, if you're already a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, I think you'll really enjoy the journey this book takes you on. And if you're a romance lover like me who's maybe a little unsure about dipping your toes into sci-fi, the romance woven throughout will definitely keep you hooked.

While this one might not be my absolute favorite from Mia Sheridan, I still really enjoyed her writing and the characters she created.

Emily and Tuck grew up together, but after tragedy strikes Tuck’s family things begin to change. He moves to LA where he finds trouble and Emily follows where she finds fame. Years later their paths will cross again in the midst of a global disaster. Will they put aside hurt feelings and possible able to get back to the way they felt when they were kids?

The narrators for Tuck and Emily were perfect!

Mia Sheridan tells the best stories and you never know what they will be like. I’m always blown away how she can tuck romance in the midst of disaster and make you so happy that live can exist in terrible situations. Soooo good!

I absolutely adore this book!!

When Emily and Tuck decide to reconnect after years apart, they realize things aren’t the same anymore, but try anyway. She then hires him to be her bodyguard when suddenly solar flares hit the Earth, and everything changes. Now, they are navigating everything after surviving a plane crash and proving themselves in different ways. This book is filled with hope, growth, and positive change, and I couldn’t help but root for the characters the entire time. 

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the audiobook. I genuinely could not stop listening! The narrators were phenomenal and brought both Emily and Tuck to life.

This one was just okay for me. The story didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was hoping for because I never fully connected with the characters.

Emily was kind of hard to root for, and her dynamic with Tuck felt a little underdeveloped. The romance took a backseat, which might’ve been fine if the rest of the plot had more depth.

Not a bad read, just didn’t leave much of an impact.

I really enjoyed the narration of the book, the acting by Annalee Scott and André Santana was very engaging, which is why I am giving the audiobook a higher rating than the ebook.

Thanks Harlequin Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to listen to the ALC.

The heroine, Emily, is a big time pop star. Her childhood friend, Tuck, just got out of jail. Emily's mother begs her to hire Tuck as a bodyguard. Emily and Tuck are sort of estranged in a way. They haven't had contact for a long time. Emily has a movie star boyfriend, and she doesn't really connect with Tuck in the beginning. The three of them are on a plane and it goes down. They all start to figure out the world isn't quite like it used to be before the crash. Once the crash happens is where Tuck really starts to shine.

I love Mia Sheridan books. This book has so much depth and twist and turns. The characters are well developed. The emotion in this book was strong and deep, tugging at my heart strings. I didn't really like Emily in the beginning, but that's why characters have to change and grow throughout books. I didn't feel the connection between her and Tuck at first either, but then it slowly built. This book was one heck of a ride. It also gave me an eerie feeling about the possibility of something like this happening in today's world. A great read!

The voice of Tuck, Andre Santana, in the audiobook wasn't quite what I imagined for the character, but he still did a fine job bringing Tuck to life. The voice of Emily, Annalee Scott, was spot on. I highly recommend the audiobook.

My audio copy of Heart of the Sun was provided by NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.

I wanted to love this book, but it was incredibly bland. I came into it thinking romance was the focus. Unfortunately, Emily and Tuck had the romantic tension of a wet noodle so when the story finally picked up at about 80% of the way through, I was neither elated nor relieved. I did not feel this was the enemies-to-lovers that we are used to. It felt like the author remembered at random times that these two had a romantic backstory and peppered in a few glances and touches that didn't make sense.

I appreciated the dystopian setting. It was a good setting for these characters, described well, and different than most romance reads that I have come across. I just felt that the story missed the mark for me.

I was genuinely captivated by "Heart of the Sun," a tale set in a dystopian world following a solar flare that devastates the grid, intertwined with a romantic twist. The narrative centers around childhood friends Emily, a pop star, and Tuck, an ex-convict hired as her bodyguard, as they navigate life in a post-solar flare landscape after their plane crashes. While the romance is present, I found the apocalyptic backdrop even more compelling. There were moments when the plot felt a bit slow, yet I remained eager to discover what would happen next. Much of the book is filled with action, making it difficult to set aside. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with a unique approach to romance. The audiobook's duet narration was excellently executed and truly enhanced the storytelling. This was very different than any of the other Mia Sheridan books I have read, but I still loved it!

3 stars. A genre-bending apocalyptic romance. While Mia Sheridan's skilled writing shines through, readers should note this is not a traditional contemporary romance. Instead, it ventures into survival territory, blending elements of romantic suspense with post-apocalyptic themes.

The story follows an unlikely pair navigating a doomsday scenario, featuring a complex male lead with a troubled past and redemption arc. While the apocalyptic setting may not appeal to readers seeking pure contemporary romance, those who enjoy cross-genre narratives combining survival elements with romantic tension will find much to appreciate here.

Sheridan demonstrates her versatility as an author by crafting compelling characters and maintaining tension throughout. Though the apocalyptic elements may surprise readers expecting her usual contemporary style, the emotional depth characteristic of her work remains present. Recommended for fans of romantic suspense who don't mind darker themes and high-stakes scenarios.

I personally did not particularly enjoy this one, but that’s mostly because I don’t think this genre is for me. I did like both narrators and though this audiobook was great!

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of this book!

Childhood friends Emily and Tuck went their separate ways after Tuck's mom passed when he was a teen and his dad sold their farm. Years later, Emily is now a pop star about to disembark on her first tour, and Tuck is getting his life together after getting out of prison. Em's mom pitches the idea of Tuck being her bodyguard after a few close calls. Shortly after being hired, Emily, Tuck and Em's boyfriend Charlie are headed to her first tour stop when the plane they are on suddenly goes down. They manage to survive the crash, only to find a solar flare caused damage to the grid and they are now living in a post-apocalyptic world.

Honestly, this book terrified me. The premise of the book was waaaay too real to think about, and it freaked me out. As for the characters, I had a really hard time liking Emily, even later on in the book. She just came off as too prissy and annoying for Tuck. I am glad she was redeemed in the end, but man it was hard to like her for the first 70% of the book. Tuck definitely had a difficult time, and I can see why he was the way he was. It was nice to see the "bad guys" being redeemed throughout the book too!!

Annalee Scott is one of my favorite female narrators, and I thought she did a great job narrating Emily. Andre Santana did great as Tuck as well!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Heart of the Sun was an interesting and action-packed read that took me by surprise in the best way. I wasn’t expecting so much intensity and survival drama, but I really enjoyed following Tuck, Emily, and Charlie’s journey after a devastating solar flare causes a nationwide power outage—leading to a plane crash and an unexpected alliance as they fight to make their way back to California.

The chaotic, high-stakes trek kept me invested for the most part, though there were a few slower sections that lost my attention a bit. I appreciated that the story was told from both Tuck and Emma’s perspectives—it added emotional depth and helped ground the story—but I found myself wishing we also got Charlie’s point of view. He often felt like the odd one out, and I think his perspective could have added something unique to the group dynamic.

One thing that didn’t quite land for me was the shift in the final quarter of the book. The themes of fate and the heavier religious undertones felt somewhat out of place compared to the rest of the story and took me out of the narrative a bit.

I listened to the audiobook version and thought the dual narration was very well done. The performances really brought the characters to life and made it easy to stay immersed in the story.

Overall, this was a solid mix of survival, action, and emotional connection—with just a few bumps along the way.

I love a Mia Sheridan book and this one was a bit different than others. A post apocalyptic type love story. Second chance. The audio was wonderful with two narrators and it was engaging and exciting.

Years after growing up next door to each other, Tuck and Emily are throw together during an apocalyptic world event.

Wow! This one is so unique! Here's what I liked:

The premise: Sheridan is so good at writing romances set in unique ways. Here, she has a pop star/bodyguard, former childhood friends set during the aftermath of deadly solar flares. The world is in chaos but Tuck and Emily are not only trying to find a way home but are finding a way to love each other. Because of this, the book is an action along with the romance. Neither is overdone; the book has a great balance.

The MCs: I really liked Emily and Tuck. They have a lot of things to get over and get through. But at the end of the day, they are perfect for each other. Tuck in particular, I really liked. His backstory broke my heart but it was also so realistic.

The narration: The duet narration works well in this one. Both narrators do an amazing job with these characters!

All in all, a great, and spicy, natural disaster romance!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Phenomenal, as always! Mia has such a way with words! She outdid herself with this book. All characters were relatable and I enjoyed learning more about them.

4⭐️ 2🌶️ 5🎧

- Dystopian/Post Apocalyptic
- Second Chance
- Friends to Enemies to Lovers
- Pop Star/Body Guard
- Slow Burn

I am not typically a fan of dystopian/post apocalyptic books but I am a huge fan of Mia so I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. I couldn’t put this book down! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

I loved the emotions of the book. This book showcased the best and worst of humanity. I loved watching Emily and Tuck find their way back to each other. It was fascinating and terrifying watching the world as we know it end. For Emily and Charlie looking down on Tuck for being a felon to being completely reliant on him for his knowledge and protection.

Where I feel like this book fell a little short was in the details. It didn’t really make sense why some electronics worked and others didn’t. While I can appreciate that given the circumstances it makes sense for certain events to lack some closure and yet I couldn’t stop myself from disappointed when I didn’t see some characters get the karma they deserved. Both good and bad.

The audiobook was great. André Santana and Annalee Scott did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life.