4 Stars – A Poignant Second-Chance Romance Set Against a Gripping Apocalyptic Backdrop

Mia Sheridan delivers a compelling blend of emotional depth and speculative tension in Where the Sun Rises. At its heart, this is a second-chance love story between two people who’ve grown apart but never fully let go. The relationship between Tuck and Emily feels layered and honest—rooted in shared history, past regrets, and the slow rekindling of trust.

The speculative element, centered around a catastrophic solar flare, raises the stakes in a meaningful way. It strips away the distractions of modern life and allows both characters to confront who they truly are—apart and together. The contrast between Emily’s fame and Tuck’s quiet resilience was well-drawn and added nuance to their dynamic.

While the plot ventures into some familiar territory at times, the emotional beats land well. Sheridan strikes a satisfying balance between character development and suspense, and the final act offers just enough closure while leaving room for reflection.

A thoughtful and engaging read for those who enjoy their romance with substance and a touch of survivalist grit.

This book was probably one of my favorites so far this year. I personally love speculative thrillers and combining that with a romance is perfection to me. I actually went into this one blind thinking it was just another romance. But I was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events when Tuck and Emily’s plane crashed during a solar flare. Once they realize what happened, they fight their way back home over thousands of miles, all while rekindling an old flame. This book gave me all the feels, knowing that the stakes were so high and rooting for them the whole time. This is for sure one that I will be recommending!

The biggest thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley, and Mia Sheridan for providing me with the gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Mia never disappoints me with her books, I found this one just as good as all the others I have read by her. She's quickly become one of my fav authors.. This story was great I wouldn't change a thing about it honestly loved how everything went together thru out the whole book v

Mia Sheridan proves once again that she can succeed in anything she sets her mind to! This time, she offers us a realistic, addictive, exciting and of course romantic dystopian romance.
Knowing her passion for human nature in its extremes, I expected more violence, but I was pleasantly surprised that she avoided some clichés that are already overused. She does what she does best: looking for the motivations of humans, digging into their personality, finding their flaws and qualities, showing how an extreme situation brings out their true nature.
In this novel, we discover Tuck, who after difficult events made bad choices. As well as Emilie, his childhood friend, his first crush, the one he liked to argue with and whom he liked listening singing. We find them years later, Emily is a professional singer at the beginning of her career but already famous, Tuck seeks to create a new life for himself. He ends up becoming the bodyguard of the beautiful Emilie. Reluctantly on both sides. Resentment, tension, unspoken things... The reunion is complicated. But it's nothing compared to what awaits them: a cataclysmic solar flare that disrupts the electrical grid. The world changes in a second, chaos is here, everyone wants to understand and tries to survive.
Our protagonists therefore set off on a road trip full of surprises, good and bad, with encounters, good and bad. They have one adventure after another, it's impossible for the reader to get bored! I followed them with curiosity and apprehension and above all I was fascinated. I watch all the post-apocalyptic and dystopian movies and TV shows that come out, I love it. And there I felt like I was in a movie, watching the characters and the landscapes, seeing them on the road. A real success! Of course, Mia didn't just work on this new world, she also offers us a magnificent love story.
Emily has a slightly naive and capricious side, a little superficial perhaps. But deep down, she is a beautiful person who suffered from Tuck's departure, who fought to make her dreams come true, who is capable of fighting for the people she loves as well for strangers. Tuck is more realistic, more serious. They did not have the same life. But more than anything, he is a man capable of anything to redeem what he believes to be his faults. His need for redemption is his driving force and his handicap.
When their world changes, his priority is to keep Emily safe and all their adventures end up bringing them closer together. They rediscover each other, they find the one they loved to argue with, their friend. They find in each other an ally. They were meant to be together, nothing can separate soul mates forever, not even the end of the world as we know it.
This novel shows us how the worst events bring out the worst and the best in humans, but also how they remind them of the essential. They remind them that they can have more strength and courage than they imagine, that sometimes you have to think only of yourself and sometimes help each other.
This novel is about forgiveness, resilience, hope and love. And it is written by an author with extraordinary sensitivity and incredible talent. I highly recommend it!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I love how it gives perspective on being grateful for what you have and not striving to be something you aren't. Just be your authentic self. The journey that Tuck, Emily and Charlie go on is treacherous and some of the twists I did not see coming! I can't imagine going through an event like that. It would definitely be interesting, seeing how much society relies on electronics/technology these days. I enjoyed watching Emily and Tuck get back to their roots and what truly brings them joy and finding one another on the way. Would definitely recommend!

I've loved Mia Sheridan's books before, but the writing in this one felt disjointed and difficult to get into. DNF @ 30%.

While I enjoyed the book overall, there were a few elements that left me wanting more. The premise was engaging and the chemistry between the main characters felt authentic. I appreciated the slow burn of their relationship as trust was built gradually. The backdrop and atmosphere added a lot to the mood of the story. That said, there were a few aspects that didn’t fully land for me. Certain plot points felt a bit rushed or underdeveloped, and I found myself wishing for more depth in the secondary characters and their storylines. There were also moments where the emotional pacing dragged, pulling me slightly out of the narrative.

I love Mai Sheridan, I loved Archer's Voice, but this did not hit like that for me. I almost DNFed it but I did not. It was good but if you loved Archer's Voice and think this will be anything like that, then this may not be the book for you.

Heart of the Sun is a second-chance dystopian romance that follows childhood best friends—Tuck, an ex-con, and Emily, a world-famous pop star—whose lives have taken wildly divergent paths.
This novel explores themes of trust and survival at the end of the world. We are swept into an unpredictable journey filled with chaos, danger, romance and mountingtensions.

Twists abound, keeping you on edge as the characters navigate both external threats and internal struggles. Emily’s development is striking, while Tuck’s discovery of his strengths offers a compelling contrast.

The story masterfully depicts both the brutality and beauty of humanity in times of crisis. For fans of dystopian romance, this is a must-read.

Well....I ended up DNFing it when Emily talked badly about Tuck. I know that it would change later on in the book, but her outlook on the loss of everything he knew.....I was just angry.

So, just know it was a me thing. You should give it a chance because the idea behind the story sounds really good. I love a good dystopian and romance anything, but I gave up before it reached that point. You continue though and let me know if I should try again.

I enjoyed this! I haven't read Mia Sheridan's other work, so I don't have anything to compare it to. I wasn't sure how I would feel about a dystopian romance, but this worked for me.

The chemistry and tension between Tuck and Emily was on point and the slow burn was buurniiinngg. And while I was definitely interested in their blossoming connection, I was hooked on their survival journey and how they were going to make it. Throughout the story, humanity is tested and people's desperation to survive takes precedence, becoming willing to do anything for self-preservation as resources continue to dwindle rapidly. I know I have zero survival skills, so if I were in this situation, I would have nothing to offer and would simply perish. We have become so reliant on technology and internet connection, it's scary to think that this probably how humans would react in this dystopian world without it. There are definitely some eye-roll worthy moments (including the ending for me), but overall I was an enjoyable read and I was rooting for them.

The audio narrators for this book were also excellent, so if that's an option for you I'd recommend the audio as well.

I really wanted to love it, but I couldn't. This was a bit of a letdown after books like Archer's Voice, and I know I can't compare the two because they are so different, but I went in blind on this one.

I enjoyed the prologue and was super excited going in. But then we met Emily (who had a mightier than thou outlook on life) and her boyfriend Charlie, who was a disgusting nuisance from the get-go.
I wish Mia had gotten rid of him earlier in the book, because he wasted so much of our time, ngl.
But once he left the picture, things sped up REALLY fast, and we finally got our childhood best friends/crush/second chance romance situation.

Overall, it was mediocre in my opinion compared to the author's other work. But I also do understand that this was a new take for her and would like to congratulate her on trying something new.

Interesting story of two estranged childhood friends who now, post plane crash, have to rely on each other to figure out what happened to cause the plane crash. Emily is famous, Tuck is her bodyguard. They once were best friends. Life happened. Now they are back in each other’s world. Post destruction world as Emily and Tuck meet interesting characters and must find a way to navigate living in this new world.

Oh this was a little scary, reality check read. First of all, Mia Sheridan can always spin tales into a masterpiece. I love both character. I love the span of their relationship. This is classic Mia style and I all here it. The ending is a little rushed to my liking but over all a good read.

I’ve been a fan of Mia Sheridan’s for over 10 years. That’s why - despite not being a fan of post-apocalyptic stories - I hesitantly decided to give this book a shot. And I’m really wishing I had hesitated more because it truly pains me to say that this book was awful.

I have read just about all of this author’s books but don’t even know what happened here. Even in her earliest books, when her writing skill left a bit to be desired, she was still a great storyteller. The writing here was insipid (in the best of places), the dialog ridiculous (I can't even count how many times I thought "NO twenty year old is going to talk like that"), the situations ridiculous (and I'm not needing total realism here - I am a die-hard fiction reader who devoured the Twilight series...multiple times, as an adult......but when the hero set a dislocated elbow because he read a book about it in prison, and then proceeded to plaster it up like it was a broken arm, I couldn't help but roll my eyes), and the storytelling was vapid.

I’ve steadily watched Mia Sheridan become a brilliant writer over the years (Where the Blame Lies and Where the Truth Live are AMAZING stories). But this one was a hot mess of epic proportions. It's like this is a book she wrote in high school and decided to offer it up now.

I am rarely this ungracious about a book. Had this been any other author, I would have DNFed after about three chapters. Instead, I trudged through it for two weeks. Even though I have loved this author, I won't be making that choice again.

* thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for providing a ARC in exchange for an honest review

I started this book with little expectations except 'a romance' in a 'new setting'

Well. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this was a post-apocalyptic book with a side of romance. I was delighted. It meant a fairly fast-paced story.

I thought the characters were decently developed. Childhood friends who (for reasons) grow apart, live some life, and barely reconnect when BAM! Apocalypse.

The survival story was great, touching all kinds of what-ifs and exploring the good and bad of human nature in tough situations.

I received an ARC for my honest review. I have been sidetracked by life, but I was glad to finish it. I wish I had read it sooner!

I really really liked this book! I love that this was my first book I have ever read by this author and will be continuing to read more from Mia Sheridan!! This love story is so unique as it is a post-apocalyptic romance! I think it was so fun and refreshing. The story in itself I think was done pretty well as too. Overall, I rated this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Heart of the Sun is an emotional and adventurous dystopian romance.

Childhood best friends, Tuck and Emily, grew up together on Honey Hill farms, which were family-owned orange orchards. Tragedy struck Tuck's family, sending him to LA to live with his uncle while his father sold their orchard. Tuck fell in with a bad crowd, landing him in prison years later. Emily, on the other hand, started growing in popularity as a singer. She needs a bodyguard for her tour, and Tuck is willing to take the job. While they are mid-flight, a solar flare hits, turning the world dark. As they travel across states to get home, Tuck can redeem himself for his past while Emily searches for her purpose.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I thought this was a great story. There was a sense of adventure as the characters traveled to California with many tense and unpredictable moments. They made many stops along the way and encountered many different types of people. Some of the people were kind, and others were not.

Tuck and Emily are lovable, relatable characters. When Tuck's emotions get the best of him, he quickly and easily shuts himself off. He carries a bit of shame and guilt that doesn't belong to him but makes it easier to put himself in danger to protect those who are unable to. Emily put in the work to get to where she was in life. She was never an entitled pop star, but in this new reality, she still lost a bit of herself. She felt useless, especially around Tuck, who was perfect in this kind of situation. But she was brave and generous. This situation brought the best out of both of them, and they made a great team.

Overall, it was a great story. The ending was very emotional for me. I couldn't help but shed a few tears.

apocalypse • bodyguard romance • childhood best friends • contemporary romance • dystopian romance • enemies to lovers • forced proximity • music • musicians • second chance • slow burn

I am a Mia Sheridan fan- I absolutely loved Archer’s Voice. However, I made it 47% through this story before I ultimately didn’t finish it. It was interesting but it was dragging on and on. It gave me walking dead vibes but it just didn’t keep my attention.

This book tells the story of childhood friends who were separated by circumstances and reunited years later to help each other. Emily is a famous singer in need of protection, while Tak is a former convict in need of a job. As the world begins to crumble, they must work together to survive.
I really wanted to love this book as Mia Sheridan is one of my favorite authors. If you're expecting a romance this is not it. This is more about survival. I found the story dragged out longer than necessary and became boring after a while.