4.25 ⭐️

Tuck and Emily grew up together on a small farm in southern California, but their lives took them in opposite directions. Emily became a rising pop star and Tuck became a felon. When Tuck gets released from prison and is in desperate need of a job, Emily reluctantly hires her estranged childhood friend as her body guard. However, the playing field levels out when a solar flare hits Earth, knocking out the entire power grid. Tuck and Emily are forced to work together and reconcile their differences in a new changing world where humanity is on the brink of collapse.

Mia is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. While this didn't compare to Archer's Voice or Unwanted, I was still addicted to the pages. Emily really annoyed me for the first half of the book, but she's supposed to. We see so much character growth from her. Tuck is selfless and was the sole reason they survived. This is told as a second chance romance, though we barely got a glimpse into their past. I wish their "young love" was more fleshed out so that them coming together as adults made more sense (other than there being no one else amidst an apocalypse). This read more as a dystopian novel with a splash of romance, since that wasn't the main focus. If you know that going in, I think this book is powerful and addictive.

I switched reading this between the audio and ebook because I seriously couldn't stop reading (typical Mia Sheridan for me). The narrators were perfection 10/10.

Emily and Tuck are childhood best friends who have gone down different paths. Emily is a famous singer and Tuck just got out of prison. Tuck is given a second chance when Emily’s mom begs her to hire Tuck…as her bodyguard. Disaster hits and they end up on a journey back home to California.

I went into this one blind and didn’t expect the dystopian nature of the story. It was entertaining, and I loved the character building with Emily and Tuck.

Thank you to Net Galley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Mia Sheridan for the ARC! Pub date 5/20/25

Thank you netgalqley for sending me an ARC! I love Mia Sheridan's writing and Archers Voice is my favorite book of ALL time. With hat being said this was a different read for me and I feel very neutral, This book is a dystopian romance, it had a bit of a slow start. It's about childhood friends that hadn't seen each other in a long time. I wish we got to see more of their romance earlier in the book.

4 stars

A post-apocalyptic drama with a childhood friends to lovers romance, this is an emotional and heartfelt read. It’s something very different for Mia Sheridan, but I was completely swept up in this story, and I loved it.

Tuck and Emily were neighbours and childhood friends who crushed on each other as teenagers until Tuck’s life fell apart in devastating circumstances. They lost touch with each other, and years later Tuck has been released from six years in prison, and Emily is a burgeoning pop star. Desperate for a fresh start, he asks Emily for a job and she reluctantly hires him as her bodyguard, though she’s not happy to see him. They bicker and argue just like they did as kids, but it’s clear that there’s more to their story and there’s so much history between them, and I couldn’t wait to see how their reunion would unfold. It’s a great set up, and I would have loved to read this as a story alone, but then comes the dramatic twist.

They’re in a small plane when a solar flare knocks out the electrical grid, and when the plane crashes, they are thrust into a world they never could have imagined. Everything with an electrical circuit is destroyed, and they are stuck thousands of miles from home in a dangerous new reality where they have to fight for their very survival. As they start the journey across the country to make their way home, it’s an exciting ride that is heartbreaking, uplifting, and scarily real. I loved the post-apocalyptic aspects to the story, the people they meet along the way, and the way they cling to each other through it all.

It's a long and dangerous road trip, and they’re dealing with a lot; not just from the things they see, endure and do to survive, but Emily is realising that her new life as a popstar is over, while Tuck is searching for redemption, desperate to prove that he still has goodness in him. It’s a heartfelt journey that will leave them both forever changed, and the character development is really well written. I enjoyed both of these characters, and Tuck owned my heart as the ultimate good guy wanting to do the right thing and protect the girl he cares so much for. And as they work together, rely on each other, and fight to stay alive, they find themselves falling for each other all over again.

"I was falling…God, it had happened quickly. Or maybe it had happened far too slowly."

The romance is a slow burn and doesn’t really hit its stride until late in the story, but I loved watching Tuck and Emily come together. Their love story is sweet and full of emotion, and brings the feels in the middle of terrifying and devastating circumstances.

It’s a very different read from Mia Sheridan, but she tells the story well, and though the romance isn’t as central to the story as her books usually are, I thought the story was balanced really well given everything else that is going on.

Rest assured the book ends well with a happy (yet still realistic) ending, and I really enjoyed this one.

4 stars.

There’s no doubt that Mia Sheridan is an amazing writer. Her words are captivating and this story was very different but amazing. I was intrigued by Heart of the Sun. I enjoyed romance and I loved the dystopian concept. Our main characters were amazing together. The chemistry between Tuck and Emily was beautifully written. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for giving me this opportunity. Mia Sheridan is a talented writer and I will continue to support her work.

There’s just something about the way that Mia Sheridan writes romance that makes me feel like I am falling in love with these characters myself. From each character being so thoroughly written to the way the romance and the plot flow so seamlessly, you cannot help but love every aspect of this book. While there are slower moments that do feel choppy occasionally, the rest of the writing making you feel as though you are in the story makes up for it. I was honestly so sad to see this book end, but it is one that made me fall in love with Mia Sheridan all over again.

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan is a dystopian story with childhood friends, slow burn enemies to lovers and a second chance romance. Tuck and Emily were childhood friends who went down different paths. Years later they are reunited when she needs security as a pop star. Their lives are vastly different now. He is an ex-con and in need of a fresh start and this may be just what he needs. Emily is living her dream with music, has a boyfriend and is living her life. Then the world collapses and nothing will ever be the same.

Now Tuck, Emily and Charlie are learning to survive in their new normal, if you can call it that. This was a slow burn in regards to the romance and the overall journey is difficult, heartbreaking and captivating.

Happy reading.

A little different than what I expected from this book but overall still a great read. Would recommend to anyone who likes dystopian storylines like last of us with a mix of romance

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and Ms. Sheridan for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I will agree with other reviewers that the story was very slow to get started. And, unfortunately, from the beginning Emily (FMC) was super unlikable and I couldn't really reconcile myself to her at any point. Her reunion with Tuck had absolutely no chemistry other than respective observations that the other was good-looking; Tuck's fascination with Emily seemed to be purely looks-based even as he disliked and resented her personality.

I actually DID really enjoy the apocalyptic nature of the book once the solar flare took place. I like "The Last of Us" and I like apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction a lot. Frankly I would have preferred if Tuck was either alone or with a random person; even just Tuck and Charlie would have been preferable. When it's a woman and a man, ESPECIALLY a pair with a backstory like Emily and Tuck, and ESPECIALLY when one of the pair is so clearly incompetent at survival, the power imbalance can start to feel like a form of prostitution which is so uncomfortable for me. It's different when it's an established couple; you've already signed on to support the other one. Example: I am the incompetent one (at survival). I admit this. Ha ha honey, you're stuck with me now! LOL. But those are established vows and promises. Two single people stuck together with such a massive competency imbalance just hits different. Hard to explain.

I had to really push to finish this and ultimately walked away feeling that Tuck would have been better off alone, with someone who would have given him a truly fresh start. Eh.

The writing style wasn't bad; I would definitely try other books by this author, and just hope I don't take such a strong dislike of the MC(s).

Exciting and terrifying! A work trip turning into survival of the fittest. This book had my heart pumping and my mind racing with every moment! The way Mia wrote this book and every characters part that played out is absolutely incredible! It truly has you wondering what you would do in these circumstances. A truly phenomenal story.

Mia Sheridan is an awesome writer of contemporary romance and thrillers - this step into a sci-fi dystopian future felt like a perfect fit for her writing style. In Heart of the Sun, a solar flare causes mass disruption by frying out the power grid and all electronics. Hospital equipment shuts down, cars jerk to a stop, and planes fall from the sky. Emily and Tuck were childhood friends with a burgeoning romance, but Tuck's life derails after his mother's death and cold widowed father. Tuck gets involved with the wrong crowd and is imprisoned for 6 years. On the other end of the spectrum, Emily has achieved all she's dreamed of: she is hot new pop star with a sold out tour. Emily's mother pushes for Tuck to be her security guard for the upcoming tour but their reconnection is strained. On a flight from LA to NYC, the flight instruments and engines suddenly shut off, leading to a plane crash. Once Tuck and Emily (along with Emily's Hollywood actor boyfriend) survive the wreckage, they slowly discover the chaos affected the country.

“Heart of the Sun” is an intriguing mix of tropes that feels both familiar and unsettling. Taking a step outside the typical box, author Mia Sheridan delivers a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance set against a dystopian backdrop that is not outside the realm of possibility. And while I loved the overall premise, the two main characters and their near-constant, combative sparring fell a bit short. Their relationship dynamic lacked the deep-seated, gut-wrenching, emotional intensity I craved—something that would’ve catapulted this story from merely good to great. Still, Mia Sheridan’s “Heart of the Sun” is a compelling story that pulled me in right from the get-go and kept me engaged right up until the very end.

4.5 Stars!
Tuck Mattice grew up on an orange grove farm in the San Fernando Valley. It was his dream to one day carry on the family legacy, but after the loss of his mother he makes one bad decision after another and loses everything. Now as an ex-con, his future is uncertain. He’s carrying a lot of regret, and is confused and looking for purpose. He’s also in desperate need of work, and finds a job in the most unexpected place working for his childhood best friend Emily Swanson. She’d always been like family to him, but circumstances caused them to drift apart. She’d been hugely talented as a kid, and now was a famous pop star in need of security. He’s suddenly her new bodyguard, and part of her entourage. She’s like a stranger to him, and nothing like the girl he remembered.

Emily Swanson has found great success with her career. Music has always been her solace and her passion. She now lives in Los Angeles where all her dreams have come true. Then a blast from the past shows up in her world. It’s been thirteen years since she’s seen Tuck. They shared a history, but if he was going to work for her she had to keep things professional.

Tuck and Emily clash at every turn. Their relationship is complex, and then gets even more complicated when a solar flare takes out the electrical grid. It’s chaos all around them as they are faced with a crumbling society. They travel for miles as they witness a complete breakdown of civilization. As they set off on a road trip and fight for survival they realize what truly matters. One challenge after another forces them to face the unthinkable, and the harsh reality that the world has changed. When strong feelings resurface will they walk away or give in to fate?

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan is an extremely unique, first loves, childhood best friends, enemies to lovers, neighbors, boss/employee, slow burn, new adult dystopian romance full of emotion, angst, action, suspense, danger and chemistry. It’s an original story about survival, redemption, second chances and love. I really enjoyed this book. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it before. It was captivating, different, and at one point I had a what am I reading moment because I thought it was a typical pop star/bodyguard romance, and then it takes a sharp detour into a post apocalyptic journey. I love everything Mia Sheridan writes! With Heart of the Sun she takes you on a wild ride where you feel fully immersed in the pages. It’s addictive and just fantastic! <333

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for the ARC of Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Unfortunately this was not a favorite for me. The description of this book sounded like something I’d really be interested in and the start of the book when Emily and Tuck were kids started off somewhat strong. But I found the character development somewhat forced and these characters were somewhat unlikeable. Unlikable in I just don’t connect and therefore my interest in the story was not there. I was excited to see how Mia Sheridan would combine the genres but one of the descriptors I saw used was fantasy and I didn’t get that vibe. If you are a fan of the world may be ending with a little bit of romance in there, this one’s for you.

I really enjoyed this book! It has second chance, friends to lovers. If you're a fan of The Walking Dead (without the zombies), you'll be a fan of this one.

Tuck just got out of prison. And to be honest, he has no direction and no job. When he returns to where his home was he goes to his neighbors house. Mrs Swanson mentions that her daughter, now a famous singer, needs a body guard.

When Tuck arrives to work for Emily, he doesn't find her. He finds Nova, a huge popstar who has a Hollywood boyfriend and is very different from the girl he left behind.

While traveling, their plane crashes, and it's only Tuck, Emily, and Charlie. Because the world is different. With no electricity, the world as we know it collapses. In its place is people who will do anything to survive. Mixed in with some people who are very generous and still carry their humanity.

How do you cross the country with no stable transportation? When the next person you meet just might want everything you have? Besides being a romance, this book was actually quite thrilling. And adventurous. We rely so much on these modern conveniences that when it's stripped away... it turns rough.

I loved the slow burn of it. Emily and Tuck had to get to know each other again. And rely on each other.

So if you like "post apocalyptic" novels mixed with some romance, this is your book.

First, I wanted to extend a thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to be an early reader of Heart of the Sun. The only other Mia Sheridan book I’ve read is Archer’s Voice and absolutely loved it.
This book was so different from any other books I’ve read before. While this story is noted as romance, I would say its a bit of a blend of romance and dystopian fiction with romance a bit of a subplot. Like I said, so completely different from anything I’ve ever read, but glad that I did. It’s a childhood friends to lovers romance about both Tuck and Emily.
Tuck is very protective and thrives within his environment, and reading about him will pull on your heart strings. Then there is Emily, who struggles to come to terms with her feelings regarding Tuck.
Together, their story was so captivating, with a solar flare and crazy, making it very hard to put the book down. This book came full circle towards the end in a way that had it all tying together so perfectly since the beginning of the book. The story showcases betrayal with the dark side of humanity, and that chaos that emerges with society, but also you can feel a hint of kindness. It really was a beautiful story, so I’ll be recommending this book to anyone who will listen and read it.

Tuck and Emily are childhood friends. Life happens, and tears them apart. But a new job opportunity has them rekindling that friendship and learning how much each other has changed over the years.

Emily was not my favorite. She was judgmental and annoying for more than half of the book. Eventually, she learned to be herself, and not who everyone wanted her to be, which made her more interesting and likable.

Tuck was a total mystery. But, once he opened up about his past, he became my favorite character. Knowing what he went through, and how he blamed himself for things outside of his control, made my heart break for him.

Emily has to learn how to trust Tuck again, even though she doesn’t think very highly of him. Meanwhile, Tuck has to deal with judgements of everyone around him, including his boss.

The global blackout storyline of this book was intriguing. Never knowing what would happen next, gave me so much anxiety. I never expected so much heart break, mystery, and love to be present in this book.

Heart of the Sun (a Love Story) by Mia Sheridan completely surprised me. I enjoy going into a read blind, especially if the book is by an author I haven’t experienced yet. I assumed this read was going to be a classic, second chance romance with witty banter. Enter a post apocalyptic, the grid is down, society is crumbling type of vibe. Surprise!

Emily, a pop star, links up with her childhood neighbor Tuck as he is in need of a job. With his incredible build, of course, he’s hired as her security team. While noticing unsavory choices made by Emily’s mega moviestar boyfriend Charlie, Tuck realizes that Emily’s world is filled with falsehoods.

The three are stuck together as they try to make their way home while in the middle of chaos. Normal, everyday comforts are gone. People in towns all around them shift to survival mode. Truths are revealed. If you like dystopian romances, this one is for you!

I absolutely loved the pivot this book took. Thank you NetGalley, Mia Sheridan, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sharing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was not my first rodeo with Mia Sheridan’s book. I absolutely adored Archer’s Voice years ago. Thus, this made me try to read this new book of hers.

First, I would like thank The Hive for this opportunity to read this book! When I read the blurb it was promising. Although I had a hard time getting into it. The beginning was off, because Emily seemed degrading towards Tuck. Her attitude was not appealing, it was giving subtle mean-girl, bully vibes. As I tried to continue, it seems worse on how judgmental Emily was.

I think that this book will work out to some readers. I refrained from going into further details on my review so that others can have a chance to have a feel on this book. It’s just that this was not the book for me.

Thank you, net galley for advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I am a huge Mia Sheridan fan, and love a lot of her books, so I went in with high expectations. However, this one fell a little flat for me. I wasn't crazy about the main characters and felt like they didn't have chemistry. I also felt that the book was too long, and found myself waiting until the end. I wasn't a huge fan of this one.