Audiobook due out May 20!

Tuck and Emily have grown up on neighboring farms. Our novel begins with Emily teasing Tuck for reading educational books. When Emily breaks a car windshield (while teasing Tuck for working out with weights), Tuck takes the fall for her so she can go away to singing camp. This is pretty much all Tuck in a nutshell.

Having gone their separate ways for several years (Tuck to prison, Emily to become a popular singer), Tuck goes back to Emily's family farm looking for work, which is hard to find as an ex-felon. Emily's mom convinces Emily to hire him for security. Which is how they end up on a private plane with Emily's boyfriend Charlie (an actor and complete knob) that crash lands.

What follows is them traveling home through an America that's becoming a hellscape in the wake of complete electric/electronic failure. They walk, hitch rides, trade on the good looks and popularity of Emily and Charlie, while being protected by the smarts of Tuck. There are bodies and murders and a complete lack of sanitation, but somehow our lucky trio find themselves encountering people willing to house them, drive them, feed them, etc. There are a couple dangerous moments, but luckily Emily and Tuck are farm animal friendly and also down with murder when necessary.

I had a lot of trouble wanting Tuck, who is a sincere and decent dude, to get involved with Emily, who is clearly a horrible judge of character as well as being about as deep as a puddle.

Finally, a little comedy: As a native San Diegan, I can confirm that La Jolla Farms is not literally a "farming" community. Those are full sized backyard tennis and basketball courts, not garden plots. The homes are adjacent to the Torrey Pines Golf Course, and the cliffs and beaches below are city land. Unless you consider a citrus tree to be a farm, there are zero foods being grown here.

The narration was excellent, I just feel like this book was trying for too much, so that neither the harrowing action nor the romance felt well done.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, I liked this book. I go in to most books completely blind, without reading a synopsis. I’ve been doing it for a little over three years and I find it to make the book more mysterious and exciting.

This book had everything! It had romance, suspense, mystery, action, and a few other things (triggers; like murder, world ending, kidnapping, etc.), well I enjoyed it, I only gave it three stars because it wasn’t absolutely mind blowing or heart wrenching for me.

I think that if you enjoy a book with a little bit of everything that you would like Heart of the Sun!

What an interesting premise. Reminds me of the song If the World Was Ending by JP Saxe.
I think if someone is coming for this book looking for more Archers Voice, I wouldn't recommend, but if they enjoy Sheridan's author voice, her easy to follow and gently emotional writing that isn't over the top flowery, but rather gritty at moments, I recommend.

I think the narrators did such a great job, especially Annalee Scott. There were a couple of high emotion moments that she truly nailed. I think that André Santana captured the spirit of the character he was tasked to portray, I appreciated some of his more subtle changes when his characters loosened or tighten back up.

Thank you for this opportunity to review and help this book find its audience.

I have been wanting to read Mia Sheridan's books for a while now and was so glad to start with this one!

I really got the vibe of the show The Last of Us from this, but without so much gore. She did so amazing of mixing issues of a world wide emergency with the aspects of romance. Tuck and Emily go their separate ways after their childhood and are reunited years later when Tuck is in a bad spot and needs a job. She brings him on to her team and while they are traveling their plane crashes from an unknown natural disaster. They journey together to survive while everything is off grid and their childhood love for each other grows.

I've never read a story like this before with a mix of dystopian themes with a slow burn romance. I really enjoyed it! There were some parts that I didn't fully vibe with but overall the story was fun and the ending was full of drama and I couldn't stop listening. The narrators did a great job of bringing out the emotion from the story. I truly felt like part of the adventure.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ALC in exchange for my honest review!

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!

To start I want to say I have never once listened to an audio book and I was very concerned I wouldn’t finish it. My house is clean, I baked (which I hate doing), did laundry, washed and prepped all the fruit and veggies for the week - all so that I had a reason to keep listening to it!

When I first started this I was not sure if I would get through it, hearing a narrator try to do the voices of many people isn’t my thing, however it was a nice surprise to get to chapter six and get two narrators!

The story was fantastic.

Where were you when the power went out?

When Emily gets talked into giving her once friend Tucker a second chance at life after prison by being her body guard, she certainly couldn’t have expected that he would be her saviour when the world comes to a crashing halt. After a solar flare that has caused all electricity including planes to shut down Tucker and Emily must find their way home in the wilderness and vastly changing world. Through every hurdle they work together and realize that they might be able to go back to who they use to be.

I loved both of their characters as they changed and helped people along their way. I LOVE a good world changing and adapting to the new world kind of story. This book had me hooked from beginning to end.

Thanks so much for this audiobook arc!

I loved Archer’s Voice so I’m always tempted by Mia Sheridan.

Heart of the Sun begins in the childhood of Emily & Tuck. We get a gauge of who they are as children. Fast forward to now. Emily is an emerging pop star. Tuck is fresh out of … jail. Their moms were best friends (Tucks mom has passed.) Emily’s mom gets the idea that Tuck could work as security for Emily.

We automatically see the years of history between them. Only issue is- Emily has a boyfriend. He happens to be a famous actor too. The 3 of them are on an airplane when they have an argument. Next thing we know- the plane goes down. Not only do they have to survive where this plane crashed but they find out the world has completely changed.

Tuck is such an asset at this point. The pop star and actor would never have survived without him. This is when the book takes a fun, flirty turn to scary and apocalyptic. It feels like watching The Walking Dead. They’re journeying on foot to find food, shelter, water and many people are turning on each other.

This was not my favorite kind of love story. I couldn’t figure out how they were going to get rid of the boyfriend (without it being tragic) so that Emily & Tuck could face their feelings. This book made me so anxious. This was probably heightened by the audio. I did love the narration. But the concept of this story is terrifying. Everything just loses power and the people seem to snap- all for survival. How terrifying! Not exactly a peaceful love story. I’m sure there’s an audience for this but this concept stressed me out.

This is a great but crazy story about two childhood best friends, Tuck and Emily who go separate ways after a tragic occurrence in their lives.
Years later a solar flare hits the electric grid and the world is in chaos. Tuck and Emily are back to their bickering and bantering like they were back in the day and the things they go through during this very difficult time brings them closer than ever.
This story is like no other I’ve read recently and I’m so glad I was given the chance by NetGalley to read the ARC.
I highly recommend reading this book when it releases!!

This was my first read by this author. The cover definitely drew me in - beautiful! I had a hard time getting into this story and didn't want to finish it. It definitely dragged and felt like it needed to be cut down.

Thank you to Netgalley, Mia Sheridan and Harlequin Trade Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

3.25 ⭐️
As someone who loved Archer's Voice, and who also loves disaster movies I was really excited to get this ALC from NetGalley. The premise of enemies to lovers, second chance and bodyguard trope was an instant YES! However, at about 50% I had a really hard time staying invested. The enemies weren't enemy-ing, the disaster wasn't disaster-ing, and the bodyguard gig ended pretty quickly. The potential just sizzled for me.

The characters and their journey was sweet, and if you enjoy a drama-free second chance romance this may be for you! I just needed a bit more angst and tension.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the chance to listen in to this story for my honest review :)

Well this book was certainly an unexpected experience from Mia Sheridan. It starts off “normal” and what I had anticipated from a romance by this author, but things quickly take a turn. There are characters you love, characters you despise, and some along the way that make you wonder and feel empathy as this books transpires into a dystopian nightmare. Although it seemed far-fetched at times, it was thought provoking and made me wonder what could or would happen if something occurred in today’s society that threw out the power grid etc. I found the storyline to be fairly fast paced and also engaging. There were times that it got deep but I feel that Mia also tried to keep it somewhat light even during times where the encounters were dark. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and will absolutely recommend it to some of my fellow readers. I am not sure that I have read a book quite like this before and appreciated the opportunity granted by Mia Sheridan, NetGalley, and Harlequin Audio. The opinions in this review are mine alone, I was not paid for positive feedback, only given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mia Sheridan writes amazing books and this one is no exception. I especially enjoyed being able to listen to this book because the narration added a little something extra to the experience. If you are a Mia Sheridan fan, you are guaranteed to love this one, too. I definitely recommend this audiobook.
Give it a try!

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was definitely not the story I expected when I began to listen- I was pleasantly surprised with the different storyline than what is usually written about in romances. The rosy quarter of this book was truly interesting- 5 stars that got me excited to see where this was going. Unfortunately the middle section seemed to drag on a little and took a while to hit a climax. I would give the middle part 3 stars. Now to the final act of the book- it was excellent, exactly what the story needed- the love story really began to shine, the conflict was interesting and there was a twist I didn’t see coming.. after taking this all into account I landed on a solid 4 ⭐️ The narrators were excellent, both male and female were interesting and did a great job.


Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest feedback

4.5 stars!!!

In this new novel by Mia Sheridan, childhood friends Tuck and Emily are reunited after thirteen years apart. Emily, now a pop sensation, hires Tuck, an ex-con, as her bodyguard. As they navigate their old bond and the heat between them, a cataclysmic solar flare disrupts society, forcing them to find a new way forward.

I delved into this book blindly, drawn in by its captivating cover and promise of a love story. Occasionally, I like to take a break from dark and gory reads and indulge in some feel-good books. Little did I know what I was in for!

The story begins innocently enough, following two characters, Emily and Tuck, who have been separated by life for a long time. Despite their vastly different circumstances, fate seems to be pushing them back together. Without reading the blurb, I had no idea what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by the gripping narrative that unfolded.

This book is ahead of its time, painting a picture of a future that feels eerily plausible. It made me ponder what would happen if the power went out, forcing us to rely on our survival instincts rather than modern conveniences. The characters are well-developed and endearing, making it impossible not to root for them and hope for a happy ending.

The story left me contemplating its implications long after I finished reading. The e-book and audiobook versions were equally engaging, thanks to the talented narrators who kept me on the edge of my seat. I found it difficult to pause the story once I was immersed in it.

This book exceeded my expectations, offering a unique blend of thought-provoking themes, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, slow-burn romance, and dystopian fiction. If you enjoy a captivating read that challenges your perspective, this book is must-read. Just wow!

Thank you, Harlequin Audio and Canary Street Press, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The thought pinging around my brain after finishing Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan was, "Wow... just wow."

Seriously, I was left a bit awe-stricken by the entire experience of this story.

This book is full of adventure, sorrow and joy, good and bad, hate and love, the nasty and the beautiful. It’s a story full of contradictions and unconventional ideas, leading to a bittersweet ending—just like the rest of the journey.

Honestly, it was incredible. It was terrible. It was wonderful.

Although... labelling this on the cover as a love story?? A LOVE STORY?! No, this is not a LOVE story.

If you really break it down, this is a work of apocalyptic fiction with a hint of love. But... it is also about two characters experiencing an adventure through space and time to find their way back to one another.

In my opinion, the wording on the cover could be changed to dissuade readers from thinking of it purely as a romance, since it’s a bit misleading—but maybe that was the point? Who knows.

Continuing with a little bit of the nitpicking....

The book starts with an action-packed and thrilling prologue that immediately hooks your attention, but then it does dwindle a bit during the character-building sections. I beg people to hold on through to Chapter 13 though, which is where the prologue meets the present-day storyline.

Chapters 1–13 focus heavily on character development—exploring their backgrounds, setting up how they reconnect, and laying the foundation for the slow-burn romance. But yes... those chapters DO pale in comparison to the rest of the story, and honestly, they almost lost me, but... I am so glad I stayed on board because the payoff was phenomenal.

I found myself surprised a lot throughout this story... especially in terms of the characters' real personalities—things that you just don’t expect from them (okay, some things I could have figured out just by reading the excerpt—like knowing Tuck was an ex-con—but honestly? I forgot about it... sue me! (JUST KIDDING PLS DON'T))

There were other surprising plot points, but at the same time, there were also some predictable elements—some that felt a little too convenient—but hey, you’ve got to keep the main characters alive somehow for that happy ending.

But, back onto the positives.

The Adventure & Romance

The adventure aspect of the book was great—fast-paced and gripping, keeping my attention locked in. The romantic aspect, however, was a slow burn.

Fate played a huge role in the story, making it feel like the characters were truly destined to be together and that certain events were meant to happen. Yes, this added to the predictability, but honestly? I kind of liked it.

In the end, it was bittersweet. I’m happy with where the characters ended up, but I still have so many unanswered questions—about their future, the future of the world, and even about other characters we met along the way.

I wish I could go back into the story, immerse myself in those words and pages again. But like I said—it’s over, and it’s bittersweet.

Final Thoughts

I would recommend people give this book a try. Just make sure to push through the slower chapters until you hit the point where the story meets the prologue, because from there? The adventure takes off.

I’d give this book 4.5 stars, taking off a bit for the slower opening chapters that just barely kept me hanging on.

A small note about the narration, not pertaining to the actual story:

While I loved the female lead’s narration, the male narrator wasn’t my favorite. I pictured his voice differently—deeper, more gruff maybe. He wasn’t bad, but he added some weird tones to certain words, and overall, I just didn’t think he was the best choice for this particular story.

2.5 stars. I have incredibly mixed feelings about this. It’s a. Interesting premise and had potential for the plot to POP, but then fell flat. Aside from their initial terrifying ordeal things seemed to come almost too easily for our MCs as they made their way through this new landscape. The timeline didn’t make a lot of sense to me either as it seemed things happened too fast.

My biggest gripe is that Heart of the Sun just didn’t sound like Mia’s voice, and that kills me because I LOVE her writing. In the acknowledgments she does credit Temple Hill for the general outline, so perhaps that was it?

Narration did a good job capturing emotions. Andre did not seem a good fit for Tuck as I imagined his voice rougher.

3.5 stars rounded up!

I’ll start by saying I absolutely love Mia Sheridan! I did audio for this one & absolutely loved the narrator’s!

This book was much different from anything I’ve read as by her so far. I was expecting a romance book and while there is romance, this was more of a dystopian fiction! This was my first in that genre and not my usual storyline. However, I did enjoy this book! I think I just expected more of a love story and this was definitely more romance subplot. Still extremely well written book for that genre and I loved the character development in this one! Would definitely recommend if you love dystopian fiction or post apocalyptic vibes!!

Heart Of The Sun - Mia Sheridan

What will you do when the end of the world, as we know it comes? What are you willing to do to survive? Will you hang on to your morals or will you adapt to survive? Is it possible to do both?

I had no idea what to expect when starting this book. I assumed that it was just a romance, but to my absolute THRILL, it is a dystopian romance!!

Tuck and Emily are childhood friends whose lives go separate ways. After Tuck is released from jail, up and coming singer Emily hires him as her bodyguard. When the world goes dark, they are stuck together, along with Emily's boyfriend to navigate the new world. If you're looking for a regular romance, this may not be for you as it is a veeeeery slow burn but if you are fan of dystopian books, then this will be right up your alley!!

I LOVED every single second of this novel! I was anxious and excited to find out what would happen next throughout the book. Where will they go? What and who will they encounter? Will they make it in one piece?

So, so good!

The audiobook is a duel narration with good narrators. Even though I listen to 150+ audiobooks a year, I don't think I've listened to either of these narrators before. I liked both and will recognize their names going forward as good ones!

I think with the current state of our world - the theme of this book was a tough read for me right now. Maybe I would enjoy it down the line, but for now it was hard. Its also a sloooooowwwww burn which sometimes can lose me.

(Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley, for the e-audiobook in exchange for my honest review.)

3.5 Stars

Former childhood frenemies are reunited 13 years later. One a rising popstar, the other a former felon looking for his purpose in the world...and that world just struck with disaster. Emily, her boyfriend, and Tuck are trying to make their way back to California after their plane crashed under crazy circumstances. A solar flare has struck the US rendering all electronics useless. Cars don't work (unless they were made in the 70s), people are turning on one another, and food and water are scarce. But Tuck has found his protector purpose and is determined to get Emily home to her parent's farm. And though they have grown apart these last 13 years they both can feel something still between them from when they were teenagers but refuse to admit it.

Heart of the Sun was an interesting read for me. On one hand I was prepared for more of a bodyguard/popstar story but I did end up loving the survival story. The FMC, Emily, was a bit unlikable at times but mostly she was okay. Tuck was a much more enthralling character. He's been to prison and ultimately just for trying to do someone a favor. He feels such guilt and has the urge to make his life worth something and is always looking to help someone out. He flourishes in his leadership role and makes Emily's boyfriend look like such a chump for the entire story. Granted, the guy is such a jerk it's not that hard for Tuck to do but Emily stood by him way too long anyway for my taste.

The adventure storyline was a bit slow paced but I was still entertained by it and got a lot of Walking Dead vibes minus the zombies. It was interesting listening to all the stories of the people that they meet along the way home and it makes me a little anxious to think what would happen if this type of solar flare disaster did actually occur!

I was blessed with an ALC of this book and I really did enjoy the narrators Andre Santana and Annalee Scott. I think their voices fit both of the characters well and they each had a good ability to switch character inflections. I listened to this on my normal 1.25x speed with no issues whatsoever. I'll be on the lookout for future narrations from both of them.

Overall a good one from Mia Sheridan, not stellar like Archer's Voice but still really good. I'll still keep reading anything she puts out in the future. Thank you so much to Harlequin Audio for gifting me this ALC in exchange for an honest review!