Warning. This is a love story but also….a dystopian? Emily and Tuck are together again after going their separate ways years earlier. A plane crash had them trekking across the country trying to get back home. And boy was it a long trek. For the story being told, i definitely feel like this was way too long. Otherwise, I liked Tucks background and growth. Emily, I don’t know that I was a fan of hers.

Emily and Tuck grew up on adjacent citrus farms in Southern California. As the enter adulthood Emily's star is on the rise as she gains fame as a singer, while Tuck's life seems to be falling apart. At the behest of her mother, Emily gives Tuck a job as her bodyguard. As they are traveling to an event, they run into plane trouble. When they land the world has changes. As Emily and Tuck navigate this new world and try to get home, their feelings from the past start coming back.

I really enjoyed this one. It had a great love story, but was full of action and adventure as well. The narrators did an excellent job. This was a pleasure to listen to and kept me listening late into the night.

Book Review‼️
Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan
Format: Audio 🎧
Release Date: 20 May, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5
2/5 🌶️


Thank you Netgalley and the author Mia Sheridan for the early access audiobook of Heart of the Sun.

☀️Bodyguard x Popstar
☀️Slow Burn
☀️Second Chances
☀️Dystopian
☀️Childhood Best Friends
☀️Enemies to Lovers

Synopsis:
💫In the golden fields of California, childhood pals Tuck Mattice and Emily Swanson had a bond that couldn’t be broken. But life had other plans. Thirteen years later, Emily, a rising pop star, calls Tuck back into her life after he gets out of prison to be her bodyguard. Their playful banter and undeniable chemistry come back to the surface, but neither can ignore their lingering attraction. But then, a solar flare hits, causing chaos across the globe and their plane to crash. Emily’s fame fades, while Tuck sees a chance to prove himself. As they face their losses, they must find their way back to each other and build a new way of life together.💫

My thoughts:
💫I didn’t absolutely love this book, but I also didn’t hate it. The FMC was a bit annoying to me. There’s so much that happens after the “incident” which causes all the power to go out and their plane to crash that the romance didn’t really fit well in the storyline. 💫

Absolute Perfection!

Most romance books have the same generic happily ever after but Mia Sheridan knows how to bring some thing new to the genre. The end of the world aspect created a unique experience making this the best romance I've read this year!

I enjoyed this so much!! It is a beautifully written, emotionally layered and INTENSE story. The haunting post-apocalyptic world with the MCs doing everything they can to survive life in a new world kept me so engaged. The setting is so immersive and raw and I felt that sense of urgency in every scene.

Tuck was a standout from the very beginning and I loved instantly! He was so misunderstood but quietly powerful in the way he cared for Emily and those around him. Watching his journey toward redemption and forgiveness was immensely gratifying, and his growth was perfectly done and felt authentic.

Emily’s character arc was equally compelling. At first, she seemed swept up in the glitter of fame, but as the world changed, so did she — revealing a resilient, compassionate woman who used her music not just as a comfort for herself, but as a beacon for others. Although their reunion starts out so rocky, her bond with Tuck was evident. I thought the build up to their relationship was tender and well paced, making their second chance romance feel effortless. This story hit all the right emotional notes while offering hope and healing in the midst of devastation.

Content: one open door (end ch. 34-beginning ch.35)

Thank you to Canary Street Press and Harlequin Audio for the gifted copies. My thoughts are my own.

I don’t think anything will ever compare to Archer’s voice.

But also, it felt like a romantic realistic, walking dead with no zombies …. And I wanted the Male main character to be more like Darrell Dixon, and like he kind of was and wasn’t…

I’m still working on my feelings about this book but ehhh at the moment. It didn’t give what I thought it was going too

Emily and Tuck are childhood friends who grew up and grew apart. Years later, they reconnect when Tuck is down on his luck, and Emily needs a bodyguard after her music career takes off. When a solar flare disrupts the plane they are on, they crash land and are forced to put aside their differences in order to survive.

Thoughts 💭
I went back and forth between the audio and digital book while reading this one, and both versions were a treat! The audio has two narrators who each read the dual points of view from Emily and Tuck. This book starts off with a pop star needing a bodyguard to keep her safe as she rises in popularity. An extra twist was that they were childhood friends who always seemed to clash. I loved the tension between the two main characters that started when they were children and carried over to the present day. This alone would have been an amazing story, but then phase two hits. Their plane stops working, as all electronics seemingly cease to work. What I thought would be a light romance turned into a fight for survival and a slow burn romance instead. I really liked this dystopian world and the journey that both of these characters went on. Tuck was a sweetheart, I'm glad he found his footing after having it rough in the beginning of the book. I couldn't put it down!

I've read Mia Sheridan books previously and was really excited for this! Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

A popstar and an ex-con rekindle their childhood friendship in this dystopian romance. Embarking on a journey home after their plane goes down due to a solar flare, they must learn to trust each other to survive the aftermath.

This is a slow-burn romance - after reading some other reviews saying this isn't really a romance, I have to say I don't really agree. While it is not the entire focus, if you're paying attention to clues and dialogue, Mia paints beautiful character depth that continues to grow throughout the story.

The reason for my 3.5 rating is because I felt that for how long and detailed the book was, it ends so suddenly. I did not feel enough closure in regards to the following that could have been mentioned in the epilogue or could have come full circle:
1. Did it impact the entire globe (my assumption is yes, but this was never verified)?
2. Any sort of update regarding Hosea? Or the percentage of how much of the population had survived so far? The statistic was repeated a few times so I expected to learn something further later in the book.
3. Tuck had seen the article about the solar flare early in the book, but when it was happening it didn't seem to ever dawn on him. So I don't quite understand why this was mentioned, unless just to have the reader feel it's what is happening?

The audiobook was really enjoyable with both of the narrators! That is a definite plus!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a slow-burn love story with some action!

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. In true Kelsey fashion, I started reading this book with no idea what it was about simply because I recognized the author. Imagine my surprise when I figured out it was not only a love story but was set in a post-apocalyptic world with the main characters struggling to survive. After that initial shock, it was good!

Ok I liked this way more than I thought I would by the end 🙌🏼

It says heart of the sun, a love story. And that’s what it really is at the heart of it- a love story. It was so sweet, made me tear up at the end.

Tuck and Emily grew up together, but eventually life takes them in different directions. Emily is now a super music star, and tuck lost his mom long ago, recently released from prison, and trying to get by. He gets a job through word of Emily’s mom, to be her BODYGUARD 😂 my gosh the luck. Anyway, something wild happens and they have to work through getting home together.

I was intrigued by this book from the dystopian vibes and while it was slow to start, once we got there I was like cool this is exactly what i like reading/watching in these types of stories. The world going to shit and seeing how everyone acts/responds 🤣 there’s one thing I wish we got but it’s okay if you focus more on the journey/love story.

Another thing I enjoyed was how this was set in the US so I can imagine them traveling all over. I’m not sure how people living outside of the US would appreciate it as much. But at once point they’re even talking about SoCal, where I am so I was able to imagine all the places they go.

This is my first Mia Sheridan book but I can’t wait to read more! ESP Archer’s voice as I always see people rave about that one.

Thank you to The Hive for this ALC!

Definitely different from other Mia Sheridan books I've read, but I'm definitely not mad about it! Sheridan just has a way of sucking you in to the story and keeping your attention until the very last page and this one is no expection.

Oh boy, I was NOT expecting this at all. This is the second book I’ve read by Mia Sheridan, and in my true fashion, I went in completely blind. Tuck is our selfless, too-good-to-be-true hero, while Emily initially came across as self-centered, but I was intrigued by her talent and complexity. I was curious to see how their characters would grow.

I didn’t realize where the story was going to go until… everything FLIPPED. What started as a bodyguard romance quickly became a survival story—and more importantly, a journey. The depth of their romance wasn’t just tension, but it was rooted in their childhood memories and early friendship. It was the ‘almost-love’ that’s lingered quietly in the background through life until their paths cross once again, and the world as they know it is falling apart. Were there over-the-top cinematic and far-fetched action scenes? Yes. Was the HEA story predictable? Absolutely. Was there an annoying side character? You got it—and I’m pretty sure Charlie was on purpose lol. My honest opinion? All these things worked, because Tuck and Emily were perfect for each other.

The audiobook narrators did an incredible job bringing their characters to life and I enjoyed their storytelling while I was busy with chores just as much as when I read the story on my Kindle during downtimes. As a busy career mom, I truly appreciate being presented the opportunity to read the eARC and ALC from Harlequinn Trade Publishing, NetGalley, and Canary Street Press.

Sending a huge thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-arc and for Harlequin Audio for the ALC!

This was my first Mia Sheridan book and I was expecting so much more than what this was, and what it offered. I've had Archer's Voice sitting on my shelf for the longest time and now I wonder if the hype has gotten my expectations far too high. The expectations were far too high for this book! It just was not what I was hoping for, and it fell so short of everything I was expecting.

The characters were written in such a way that made me feel no connection to them whatsoever, and I really didn't care either. Emily was utterly annoying and insufferable for 85% of the book, and Tuck? I'm not sure if he had an personality whatsoever because he was so bland on the page... and. really his descriptors were only "brooding ex-con", and that just also didn't work. There was no depth of personality to any of the side characters either and I really didn't care about anyone. The romance was also just flat... considering it was supposed to be a second chance romance, I saw and felt no chemistry, no connection even. Where was the joy, the laughter, the witty banter? The rehashing of old memories? Something. It just was not a romance, and for a book that is marketed as a romance well it left a lot to be desired.

The pacing was also all over the place - all of the action stemmed from this problems that just spun out of nowhere and really had no desire to really be solved or fixed - they were just there and used as moments for the characters to be together?

The narrators didn't do anything to bring this book to life for me - I figured that listening to the book might help, and I just found myself getting more and more frustrated with each scene.

Overall this book was just not what I wanted or expected at all.- the characters were boring, the entire plotline was so slow and there was just no emotion whatsoever.

I first discovered Mia Sheridan when I was in school, but I didn’t really care for Archer’s Voice—so I was curious to see how this one would land. This story follows Emily, a famous popstar in need of protection, and Tak, her childhood best friend turned bodyguard and ex-convict, as they reconnect in a crumbling, dystopian world. The book leans on several tropes like enemies to lovers, second chances, and slow burn romance, and while I appreciated the theme of rebuilding a life after incarceration, I felt that second chances weren’t equally earned by both characters. The FMC’s behavior grated on me, and I struggled to connect with her. There was also a bit too much happening in the plot, which diluted some of the emotional impact. That said, I could see this translating better as a screen adaptation, and fans of The Last of Us might enjoy the gritty survival backdrop.

5 ⭐ 2 🌶️ 5 🎧

This was such a fantastic story. I don't read much post-apocalyptic stuff, but I found Mia's take equal parts heartbreaking and fascinating.

Tuck and Emily were really interesting characters and I loved them to bits. Tuck's backstory was so tragic, but the way Emily (and the apocalypse circumstances) helped him through it was really beautiful.

Some of these authors are way less petty than myself... I want to see the utter carnage of revenge when it comes to certain villain character arcs, but alas, there wasn't much to be found here. Thankfully Tuck and Emily's story ended beautifully and had me smiling ear to ear regardless.

The audio was great. André Santana and Annalee Scott did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life and I really enjoyed this listen.

First of all I would like to thank Mia Sheridan, Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to read/listen to this book. I was thrilled receiving both the ebook and audio and did a tandem read.
@miasheridan @netgalley @harlequin_audio

The narration was exceptional, making the characters come alive in a remarkable way. Mia Sheridan is among my favorite authors, and I eagerly dive into anything she creates, whether reading or listening. I truly enjoyed this audiobook. Andre’ Santana and Annalee Scott brilliantly brought Tuck and Emily to life.

☀️𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧
🔥𝐃𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
☀️𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬
🔥𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐱 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝
☀️𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
🔥𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬-𝐭𝐨-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬

✨𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈✨
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 is something truly beautiful about 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧’𝐬 storytelling. This novel is a breath of fresh air - imagine crash-landing into a literal hell as the world plunges into darkness.

𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, childhood friends and former neighbors, reunite under unexpected circumstances. Emily, now a very popular pop star, and Tuck, a man with a troubled past, are brought together when Tuck becomes Emily's bodyguard in a world thrown into chaos by a solar flare. Basic survival becomes the ultimate priority.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 struck me the most was the introspective nature of the narrative. In a world stripped of societal norms and material possessions, only the raw essence of humanity remains. Mia Sheridan delves deep into the essence of what it means to be human, forcing readers to confront their own values and strengths in the face of adversity. Although I typically steer clear of dystopian stories, this novel really nails it.

𝐈 was fortunate to experience an early audio version of the book, narrated by 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞́ 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭. Their performances added depth and emotion to the characters, making the story come alive.

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, if you're drawn to dystopian settings with a touch of romance, this audiobook is a must-listen. Thank you to 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 for this gifted audio copy. All opinions expressed here are my own.


𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒.𝟓⭐️ ✧ 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 𝟐.𝟓🔥 ✧ 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟒🎧

I wasn't a fan of Sheridan's most popular book, Archer's Voice, but I heard great things about this next release and decided to give it a shot! Unfortunately, it still fell flat for me. My biggest issue with this book was that it didn't;t engage me and I was bored. I didn't expect this because while I didn't like Archer's Voice, I still read it pretty quickly because it was engaging. I felt like it was missing the integral aspects of a romance - chemistry, tension, maybe a little bit of suspense. I felt like I had to drag myself through this, and this book is just too long for me to feel like that. Very unfortunate miss in my opinion, but it might be a hit for people who have loved Mia Sheridan's previous works!

Mia Sheridan is one of those authors where I have to read/listen to everything she puts out. So when I saw she had a sci-fi/fantasy book, I'll be honest, I was a little hesitant. It's not usually my go to genre.

But I was so pleasantly surprised! While it might not knock my all time favorite Sheridan book (Archer's Voice) off its pedestal, I liked it more than I anticipated.

The main characters, Emily and Tuck, were just lovely. The underlying romance that simmered throughout the story definitely kept me invested. The sci-fi and fantasy elements were interesting and definitely held my attention, although there were a few moments where the pacing felt a tad slow.

I listened to the audiobook, and let me tell you, the narrators, André Santana and Annalee Scott, were fantastic! They were new voices to me, but they did such a great job of bringing the characters and the story to life. I was completely engaged the whole time.

So, if you're already a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, I think you'll really enjoy the journey this book takes you on. And if you're a romance lover like me who's maybe a little unsure about dipping your toes into sci-fi, the romance woven throughout will definitely keep you hooked.

While this one might not be my absolute favorite from Mia Sheridan, I still really enjoyed her writing and the characters she created.

Emily and Tuck grew up together, but after tragedy strikes Tuck’s family things begin to change. He moves to LA where he finds trouble and Emily follows where she finds fame. Years later their paths will cross again in the midst of a global disaster. Will they put aside hurt feelings and possible able to get back to the way they felt when they were kids?

The narrators for Tuck and Emily were perfect!

Mia Sheridan tells the best stories and you never know what they will be like. I’m always blown away how she can tuck romance in the midst of disaster and make you so happy that live can exist in terrible situations. Soooo good!