Surviving a plane crash is only the beginning of the survival journey. Solar flares destroy all electronic communication and transportation, throwing civilization into survival of the fittest mode. With the political climate like it is could parts of this story become reality?

Overall, this book just wasn't what I was expecting and my expectations caused me to be let down. I saw Mia Sheridan and immediately thought 'I've loved her other books, I will definitely love this', what I didn't realize was this was dystopian book that focused almost entirely on the world falling apart then it did on the romance. It is a slow slow burn, not even a kiss until 70% in. I did like the characters and I was rooting for them, I just think the book had too much filler for me. I think if you want a modern day, the world is ending dystopian book with a sprinkle of romance at the end, you'll enjoy this. I wanted a normal Mia Sheridan book, so I think I just wasn't prepared for what I was getting into.

Thank you to NetGalley and HTP for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a bit of a let-down. I am a dystopian lover and also adore a good romance novel, so I was stoked to see that Sheridan (the author of Archer's Voice) wrapped both into one book! However, the execution...not so great. There were so many opportunities to increase the stakes and make the setting feel dystopian-esque, but it missed the mark for me. I also felt like the sexual tension felt out of place in what was supposed to be a very dire situation, and that made me roll my eyes way too frequently. I loved the MC backstories and connecting small moments along the way, but it was not enough to keep me engaged. I attempted both reading and listening to the audiobook of this title, and still struggled to finish it.

Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary review copy of this title.

I really enjoyed this book! What a unique concept that truly kept me on my toes while reading. The only reason I rated it a four was because I thought it could have been shorter and not so dragged out of a journey. Otherwise, this book was fantastic! Just enough drama, romance, and mystery to keep readers engaged.

This is the second book I've read by Mia Sheridan and it did not disappoint. What I loved most about the book is how unique it was from most books I've read). The combination of all the tropes (enemies to lovers, childhood friend, slow burn, second chances, popstar and bodyguard, dystopian) created a unique and enjoyable story.
Thank you netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this arc.

Wow, what can I write about this book?! It took me on a journey I wans't expecting

Tucker and Emily knew each other their entire chillhood since their pertents had neighboring farms. After 8 years of disconect, they are meeting again when Emily, who is now a up and raising singer, hires Tuck, who can't find a job since he was released from jail, as her bodyguard.

The book begins when the private jet with Tuck, Emily and Charlie (Emily's A lister actor boyfriend) crushs to the ground in an emergency landing.

if you want to know what happans next, you should read the book. but i will say that this book is very thought provocing. I'm sure that I will continue thinking about it for a long time

I recieve an ARC copy from Netgally
The book will be published on May 20, 2025

I am a big mia sheridan fan, so I was extremely excited to have the honor of reading the ARC of heart of the sun!!

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, and I have to say I didn’t love it. the premise is quite unique compared to her usual books, set in a sort of apocalyptic world where the characters are trying to survive. while this is a really cool idea, I just didn’t think the execution made it feel as dangerous and exciting as it could have.

I also just didn’t love the characters, especially the FMC, and I didn’t really feel the connection between her and the MMC. the FMC and her boyfriend were actually driving me insane, and by the time she realized the MMC was not a horrible person, she had just gone past the point of no return for me 😭

all of this being said, I am still a huge mia fan and will continue to check out her new releases - I just didn’t love this particular one.

This book was okay at best. The story had a lot of potential, but I feel like it just missed the mark. I did like how protective the male main character was, but there wasn’t much more I liked about it.

Loved this. Tuck and Emily fighting with each other during the apocalypse and eventually falling for each other? Obsessed. Tuck was so protective over Emily even when he was pissed at her and when she finally realized that she absolutely knew the kind of man Tuck is despite his past I loved that she immediately apologized and didn’t try to make excuses

Three stars is being generous for this book. The plot line is good and the book itself had a lot of potential but in the end I felt as if it all just fell flat. I definitely wouldn't call this a love story thats kind of a stretch. the first 25% of the book and maybe the last 10% of the book were okay. My biggest problem was it felt so long at times reading this book that I was wanting to DNF it even though I had 10% left of the book just because I had just had enough. I feel like a lot of narration should have been cut down. It also started feeling very repetitive. Some of the plot points in the book took way to long to find out. I loved Archers voice by Mia Sheridan but this was a miss for sure.

Emily + Tuck

As little kids they were friends and neighbors on their Californian citrus farms. As teenagers they weren't so close anymore, but started being attracted to each other.
But then family and other things happened and Tuck left.
Now, over a decade later, Emily is a pop star and Tuck just got out of jail.
He needs a job real bad and Emily's mom kinda forces Emily to hire him as her bodyguard.
They still argue and pretend to hate each other like they used to back then. But they're also still super attracted to each other. Only ... Emily has a boyfriend.
And then the sun decides to 'explode' and destroys all electricity and nothing is as it was before. It's a new world out there and Tuck is exactly the right guy to fight his way through everything to get them back home to California.

══════════════════

Well... I really liked reading this.
I'm usually not a fan of fictional natural disasters or war or any kind of horrible things happening in my book world. The world has enough of that already. And I don't want to have those images and thoughts in my head - what would I do if something like this would happen today? I would so not survive something like that!
But this was adorable-ish. And very sad and heartbreaking and horrible.
I kept waiting for the walking dead to appear around the corner - but we're not that far into the catastrophe. Lol. It was dangerous enough for Tuck and Emily. And we enjoy watching them fight their way through things. We want them to find their happily ever after somewhere safe.
I really liked reading it. There were some plotholes or rather just things that were unbelievable or just silly - especially in the US with all those thousands of military bases and soldiers and politicians - where were they? But pfft - doesn't matter - it's a book.
It was an interesting and thrillery very slow burn second chance-ish love story - with not really enough love story, because Charlie is in this book way too much.
I had the feeling that the book was a lot longer at one time and so much had been cut and too much slow and boring stuff was left behind. The middle of the book could've been cut in half and then I needed more things! More of the romance. More of what happened to all the people and ... just more.
But I still liked it.
I would definitely watch the movie.

► HEART OF THE SUN was a great adventure-road-trip-drama-catastrophe-the-walking-dead-thingy-without-zombies-childhood-friends-second-chancy-love-story. Read it! Tuck is amazing!

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded up to 5)

Mia Sheridan delivers a compelling and immersive experience with Heart of the Sun, a novel that masterfully blends dystopian fiction with slow-burn romance. Despite not being a major fan of dystopian themes, I found myself completely captivated by this story, a testament to Sheridan’s skillful storytelling and character development.

The novel starts by laying a strong foundation with Emily and Tuck’s childhood history. Their dynamic has always been filled with playful, sometimes sharp, banter, making their interactions feel authentic and engaging. Tuck’s backstory—six years in prison—is well-developed and adds depth to his character, while Emily is on the brink of a promising music career, dating an A-list actor and preparing for a tour. When circumstances demand she hire security, her mother reconnects her with Tuck, setting the stage for an unexpected and thrilling journey.

The narrative takes a dramatic turn when an apocalyptic event plunges the country into chaos. Power grids fail, communication ceases, and society collapses into lawlessness. A harrowing plane crash marks the beginning of an intense survival story as Emily, Tuck, and her boyfriend embark on a perilous trek from the Midwest to California—on foot. Sheridan’s execution of this journey is seamless; the pacing remains engaging, and the encounters along the way feel strikingly realistic, heightening the tension and urgency of their plight.

One of the standout elements of the book is its believability. Sheridan paints a vivid and eerily plausible picture of societal collapse, making it easy to imagine such a scenario unfolding in real life. Each challenge they face feels authentic, and the stakes remain high throughout.

The romance between Emily and Tuck is a slow burn, but it unfolds naturally within the context of their shared struggles. Their banter is more than just snark—it’s layered with history, mutual understanding, and evolving respect. Emily’s realization that Tuck is still the person she knew growing up, despite his past, adds emotional depth to their relationship and makes their connection all the more compelling.

Overall, Heart of the Sun is a gripping and well-executed novel that seamlessly combines survival, romance, and thought-provoking dystopian elements. Mia Sheridan’s storytelling prowess shines through, making this a must-read—even for those who don’t typically gravitate toward dystopian fiction. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

ARC of this book provided by NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Heart of the Sun is a second-chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, pop star x bodyguard, and much more, but with a twist! It's a slow burn with elements of suspense and mystery as our MCs, Emily and Tuck, travel around the country in a post-apocalyptic setting. Confused and scared as society falls apart by the second. Together, they must survive if they want to make it back home to their families.

This book was an emotional roller coaster and I enjoyed every second of it! It hooks you in right from the beginning and grabs on till the very last page. I connected with the MCs Emily and Tuck, feeling deeply for them as they struggled both physically and mentally. Both are flawed, but as the pages pass they're eager to grow and better themselves.

Heart of the Sun is a beautiful book. A stunning one that not only showcases a love story but the strength and power that love for another can have. It shows the good and the bad, the ugly and the beauty, in the hearts and souls of others.

Classic Mia Sheridan! I was skeptical at first cause sci fi genre isn't my usual go to but I was intrigued and so glad I went in blind!

If you like a childhood friends to enemies to lovers with a mix of kinda road trip where the world is ending trope , pick this book up now!! I must say I m in a runt because of this book now but it was so worth it! I m intentionally not revealing anything else because you should go in blind!! For safety, there's a Lil OM drama, but I don't think you have to worry about it cause our ML steals the show!

Classic Mia Sheridan! I was skeptical at first cause sci fi genre isn't my usual go to but I was intrigued and so glad I went in blind!

If you like a childhood friends to enemies to lovers with a mix of kinda road trip where the world is ending trope , pick this book up now!! I must say I m in a runt because of this book now but it was so worth it! I m intentionally not revealing anything else because you should go in blind!! For safety, there's a Lil OM drama, but I don't think you have to worry about it cause our ML steals the show!

I first fell in love with Mia Sheridan’s writing when I read Archer’s Voice. She so beautifully writes about relationships and all the messiness that comes along with them. When I saw Heart of the Sun available on NetGalley, I immediately requested it.

Heart of the Sun is a story of two childhood friends that were separated by circumstances but reunited as adults. Tuck, a former convict, is looking for work when his former friend Emily, who is now a singer, hires him as her security guard. A series of tragic events leads them to learn to work together and realize their true feelings for one another. This story line is very different than her other books, but I actually really enjoyed it. In a world that is falling apart, she was still able to write a beautiful love story and remind us that people are good.

Mia Sheridan is one of my favorite authors, and if she writes it, I’m definitely reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The theme resonates with many people today, and rightly so. In an instant, we could be thrown back in time, stripped of modern conveniences, facing the chaos it brings. While evil may seem to prevail, the goodness in people can triumph and emerge victorious. Amidst all this, childhood friends, separated by different tragedies, find their way back to each other. Their love grows anew and develops deeply as they navigate their way through this new world. This book will prompt you to take a hard look at your current way of living and reconsider your choices.

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan is a gripping, emotional journey that blends second-chance romance with an intense post-apocalyptic adventure. With themes of childhood friendship, first love, grief, death of a loved one, slow-burn romance, and a bodyguard-pop star dynamic with dual POV.

Tuck is a self-destructive character who has been broken by the loss of his mother and the collapse of everything he once knew. He is an ex con who is not the same boy Emily once knew and loved. They lost touch over the years and finds himself working for her after he gets out of prison. His journey is one of survival and protectiveness over Emily. He is reactive and often closed off, yet always willing to put others' needs above his own. He is the hero and is so selfless that he seems to choose doing the right thing over his love for her. He just can’t forgive himself for what landed him in prison. His deep connection with Emily, though strained, is something you feel building beneath the surface. I couldn’t wait for Emily’s boyfriend to get out of the picture. So they could confront their feelings for each other that obviously never went away. It was a little too slow burn for me waiting for them to work through their issues and for Emily to break down those walls he put up.

“Do you think there’s such a thing as creating a moment that rights everything that’s gone so horribly wrong? If one moment can ruin everything, maybe one moment can fix it too.”

I couldn’t help but wish there was more romance between the two. After some intense thrilling chapters at the end, the story wraps up a little too quickly, leaving me yearning for a bit more between Tuck and Emily. I think this story would be perfect as a movie.

I initially read this book, and then I listened to the audiobook so I could compare the two. I think both were equally amazing and truly tugged at my heart. Tuck had so many layers and depths to his character, I loved him. It was intriguing to see about Emily/Nova. Seeing her true self and the difference of her and "Nova." I'm all for celebrity/famous characters, so it was intriguing to see both aspects of that character. I was shocked by the turn of events and the twists along the story. I absolutely loved it, though. The author has a magical way with words that make you feel like you're there, experiencing it along the characters. The narrators in the audiobook truly did these characters' justice. I felt the depth of Nova more in the audiobook than I did reading from the book. I think the narrators were amazing at providing that depth for the characters but also portraying the emotions of those characters. I loved both the ebook and audiobook so much!!

I received the ebook from NetGalley and Canary Street Press. I also received the audiobook from Harlequin Audio. Both formats were given to me to read/listen and review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book and listening to the audiobook.

THIS STORY!!!!! Was totally different from what Mia Sheridan is used to writing and I’m all here for it. We go into a childhood friendship and as time goes by they drift away and once adults they find there way back but in a tragic whereabouts that have them questioning there sanity and wellbeing. When the world is ending and people show there true colors, it’s what really matters to them is that they never got over each other. They are willing to protect and stand by each other till the end.