Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan is the bodyguard romance needed to be read.... This trope is catnip and readers will completely eat this up

So different from any of Mia’s others novels! I loved Archers Voice, so I had high hopes for this one. It wasn’t my favorite by her but appreciate her jump in switching up genres.

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan is a beautifully written novel that had me completely hooked from the beginning. As always, Sheridan’s prose is immersive and emotionally resonant—she has a rare talent for drawing readers in with her characters and storytelling.

I want to be upfront that I went into this book blind, and while I was initially captivated, the story eventually shifted into a dystopian direction that just isn’t my personal preference. This isn’t a reflection on the writing—Sheridan’s skill shines throughout—it’s simply a matter of genre not aligning with my tastes.

That said, for readers who enjoy dystopian fiction with depth and heart, I absolutely recommend this book. Mia Sheridan brings a unique voice to every story she tells, and Heart of the Sun is no exception. While it wasn’t quite right for me, I still rated it highly because of the quality of the writing and my continued appreciation for this author’s work.

Fans of Sheridan and dystopian tales alike will likely find much to love here.

In all honesty, I did not vibe well with this book. I usually LOVE Mia Sheridan books and I was excited for this one because of the dystopian themes. However, it wasn’t what I expected.

The premise is a solar flare takes out all electronics and Tuck and Emily and Charlie have to trek across the United States to get home. With just this description I was like sign me the f up. But, I felt a lack of connection with the book and characters. I was annoyed by most of the conversations and interactions.

I wanted to DNF but decided I wanted to see how it ended for Tuck. And it was ok.

The cool thing about this book, though, was the conversation I had with my husband about it and how we think we would fare if this really happened. Lets just say I would probably not make it

🖤🖤🖤🖤
4/5

WOW what a journey. I feel like I’ve been across the country and back. What a beautifully written romance novel that was so much more than just a romance. This was an emotional journey & one that I’ll think of often.

We follow along with Tuck & Emily after what seems to be a sole flare brings down their air plane & all electronics across the country. As they make their way back to where they grew up, after being newly reunited when Emily hires Tuck as her bodyguard. This book really gets into the psychological impact a nation wide disaster like this would have on humans. As well as the journey of rekindling love along the way.

What I loved…

💕 second chance romance & childhood friends to lovers are two of my fav tropes

💥 this is unlike any romance I’ve ever read. The aspect of living in this dystopian world really was so surreal. It made me think on such a deep level.

🗣️ duel POV between Emily & Tuck

🎶 I loved the prospective of music being used to persevere, to heal, & to rebuilt in life

⛓️ how the author depicted life after being incarcerated was well done & very interesting

☀️overall, I enjoyed this read & felt immersed into Tuck & Emily’s apocalyptic world

I loved this book! It jas two of my favorite things in it...distopian and romance. it was amazing! One thing I wanna know though is what happened to Charlie??

I absolutely love Mia Sheridan’s books, and Heart of the Sun is no exception. While it starts off a little slow, trust me—it picks up and becomes something really special. Just hang in there!

The story follows childhood friends Emily and Tuck, who reconnect years later under extreme circumstances. Emily is now a famous pop star, and Tuck is an ex-con trying to start over. When a massive solar flare throws the world into chaos, Tuck steps in to protect Emily, and old feelings quickly resurface.

Their relationship is full of tension, emotion, and growth. Mia Sheridan does a great job showing how love, trust, and healing can bloom even in the darkest times. The setting, characters, and emotional depth all come together beautifully.

In the end, Heart of the Sun is a touching and adventurous romance that reminds us how powerful second chances can be. If you’re a Mia Sheridan fan—or even if you’re not yet—you’ll want to read this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and @HarlequinTradePublishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan starts off by giving us a peek into the childhood of Emily and Tuck, two best friends who grow up in the orange groves of Southern California. The story then jumps ahead to the present day, where Tuck is out of prison and Emily is now a famous singer. The contrast between their worlds is captured really well. Tuck is struggling to move on from his past, while Emily, surrounded by yes-men, has become both self-absorbed and insecure, typical of the celebrity lifestyle.

The tension between them really kicks in when Emily’s mom convinces her to hire Tuck as a bodyguard. There’s a lot of friction here, as both characters carry a lot of judgment and blame toward each other. To make things even more awkward, Tuck has to deal with Emily’s movie-star boyfriend.

The real conflict unfolds when a disaster strikes—without giving too much away, their plane crashes, and suddenly, nothing is the same. The group is left to navigate an apocalyptic world as they travel from Indiana to California. It’s an interesting setup, but it never fully hooks you. The story stays mostly on the surface, and while we’re told about the characters’ emotions, it’s hard to really feel them. That lack of depth makes it tough to become deeply invested in their journey or in their relationship.

It’s good, but it doesn’t quite tap into the emotional depth you might expect from an author of this caliber.
3.5 Stars!
#NetGalley, #HeartofTheSun, #MiaSheridan, #HarlequinTradePublishing

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Theme: Slow Burn | Second Chances | Childhood Friends | Enemies to Lovers | Friends to Lovers | Forced Proximity | Dystopian
Genre: Romance | Sci Fi & Fantasy
Author: Mia Sheridan
Book Publication date: May 20, 2025
Page Count: 464 (Paperback)
Book Cover first thoughts: I love this cover, it is beautiful! Love the colors. Glad there are no cartoon characters or faces on it.

One Liner: Revolution meets a Hallmark romance movie
Story Review / Summary: This book starts off very slow. I was a little bored the first half. But it really did pick up middle way through and I started enjoying the story and introduction of new characters. After I got 1/2 way I finished the rest in the same sitting! I had to find out if Tuck got back to Emily. 

This was my first book by Mia so I will definitely read a another.

Link to book here -> https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Sun-Mia-Sheridan-ebook/dp/B0DFQBDGZV

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Thank you to #NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of #HeartofTheSun
by #Mia Sheridan @miasheridanauthor
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is May 20, 2025.
This review is being shared on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon(still pending).

I went into this book blind and not really knowing what the synopsis was about. I was so pleasantly surprised by the overerall plot. It kept me entertained throughout the entirety of the book as well as very much enjoying the love story between Tuck and Emily.

This book was intense, a cross between the Twilight Zone and Outter Limits, entertaining and strange all at the same time. It's not a book I would normally enjoy, and after reading a few of the reviews, I had my doubts, but I ended up really enjoying this book. Definitely had the romance intertwined in this sometimes difficult to read subject matter, and I enjoyed Emily and Tuck.

I guess we all wonder what the possibilities are with the future and the world today, this book certainly put a twist on that and gives you food for thought!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

From the moment I read the blurb for this story, I needed it immediately. This was going to be a different read and I was genuinely craving that because I was struggling a bit with a few books that I picked up before. Heart Of The Sun is a action packed dystopian romance that will have you rooting for the main characters victory.

When a solar flare permanently damages the earth's electrical grid, everything is plunged into darkness and the world as we knew it, no longer exists. Now in constant Survival mode for the foreseeable future, everyone is now doing whatever it takes to make it out alive and that includes childhood best friends Tuck and Emily.

It's been years since they've laid eyes on each other but due to life's choices that put them on different paths, Emily and Tuck are now back in each other's orbit with a rocky start. Now trying to navigate their new normal and get home safe, can these two friends that are now enemies survive their new world and each other?

I really loved the premise of this story and I truly enjoyed the first half of it. It was exciting going into the unknown and I held my breath while reading certain scenes because everything was so tense!! But somewhere along the line, it became too good to be true and just a matter of convenience. I understood that a few things were “right place right time” but it became too much of a coincidence and no more element of surprise.

I applaud this author for stepping out of her comfort zone and trying something new and even though I didn't love it as much as I had hoped, this was still a decent read. If you're looking for an enemies to Lovers dystopian type feel, you should give this one a try. What didn't work for me, just might be the one thing that makes you fall in love with it even more.

In dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories, I love the sense of tension and dread and we definitely feel that in this book. These are two characters with a past that all the sudden are put in this very high stress environment.

The second chance between Emily and Tuck was emotional and intense and gritty and they have a lot to unpack between them. Tuck was feeling a need for redemption and - no spoilers - he definitely gets his chance!

This is a story that will definitely make you think about what’s important and what really matters…

✨What To Expect:
🖤Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian Romance
⁉️Action & Suspense
❤️‍🔥Enemies to Lovers
💖Childhood Best Friends
🔥Slow Burn Romance
✌️Second Chances
🎤She’s A Popstar
🔫He’s Her Bodyguard

3.5 ⭐️

This book was such an interesting idea. It’s not far off from what would happen if the entire grid went down. Honestly a little scary to think about how helpless we all would be. While I really was intrigued by the whole premise of this story, it struggled to really draw me in and keep me hooked. I was interested but not dying to know how things would go. I enjoyed the aspect of Tuck and Emily finding their way again with each other, but it also wasn’t enough to keep me opening the book all that often. Also, the chances of Emily’s bike getting taken down right where Tuck was sleeping for the night is just a little tooooooo much of a stretch to keep me from rolling my eyes. Overall, enjoyable realistic dystopian love story.

3.5 ⭐️ Emily and Tuck were childhood friends growing up. (Also they each had a secret crush on the other.) But, they went their separate ways in life. Now 13 years later, Emily is an established celebrity singer and Tuck has just been released from jail. He has a hard time finding a job until he’s offered the position as Emily’s bodyguard. Soon they’re on a private jet with Emily’s celebrity boyfriend when a solar flare knocks out the power grid and their plane crash lands. The trio along with the rest of society are thrust into an apocalyptic world without the luxuries they once had.
I found the MFC a bit hard to like for most of the book. I know she’s a celebrity but she didn’t grow up that way. Still it was a decent read. I was expecting impacts of certain events to be a little bigger. The second chance bodyguard trope set in an apocalyptic world was pretty good. It didn’t really happened until about 75% through the book though.

I could not get into this dystopian romance. I wanted to so badly, but it just didn't connect with me.

Thanks to the publishers for the advanced copy!

Dystopian second-chance loves story. 3.5 ⭐'s

This was the first dystopian book I've read, and while I was on the edge of my seat for most of it, it also left me a little frightened, I don't know that I would survive a solar flair. While the book is categorized as a dystopian love story, it was more of a dystopian story with a sprinkle of love. This one was a bit different than what I am used to reading from Mia, but I still really enjoyed it. The book definitely makes you look at life and all our commodities a little different. The need to survive by any means necessary takes on a whole new meaning when the world is under attack.

Heart of the sun is definitely a slow-burn, things don't pick up in the love department until like 70%. I wish there was a bit more connection between the main characters besides being childhood friends and picking right back up after traumatic events. It also would have helped if Charlie dissappeared way before 60%. All in all, good summer read for Dystopia lovers.

This beauty arrived in the mail and was released yesterday! 😍 This story was also beautiful, and unlike anything I've read! I absolutely loved it, and highly recommend going in blind. It's been over a month since I read this book, and I still think about it! ⁣
⁣
Thank you Netgalley & publisher for the ARC to review.

oooo this book was so good! The world needs more dystopic scifi romances. The romance just hits so hard when the world is ending and people can come together in the end!

In the beginning I'll admit that I didn't care for Emily, but I really loved Tuck. I appreciate how we had so much of Tuck's point of view. But by the end I liked Emily a lot more and I think she really grew throughout the story.

The audiobook was super well done. I thought the narrators portrayed the characters very well.

Thank you to The Hive for providing me with the audiobook for review!

I didn’t finish this book… and believe me, I tried.

I gave both the ebook and the audiobook a fair shot, but I just couldn’t get into it. Where was the romance?!

I know it’s supposed to be a slow burn—but there was no burn. Not even a little smoke. I was 60% in and still waiting for something—anything—to happen. And unfortunately, the rest of the plot wasn’t compelling enough to keep me going.