Mia's Heart

The Paradise Diaries #2

by Courtney Cole

My name is Mia Giannis.
I am seventeen years old.
I live in Valese, Caberra.

This has become my mantra and my lifeline, having recently lost my memory due to a scary natural disaster.
Yeah. I have amnesia. Messed up, right?

You don't know the half of it.

Not remembering anything has turned my world upside down. My parents try their hardest to “remind” me of who I was, but it doesn't feel right. Or, if what they're saying is true and that really was me, I'm not sure I like that person very much.

And then there’s my love life. Apparently, Gavin Ariastasis is my oldest and best friend in the world. Also, apparently, we’ve never dated. But now, noticing him for what feels like the first time, he’s making my heart do somersaults. He knows me inside and out—the real me. Plus, he’s sexy and charming as hell. Sounds perfect, right?

But then... there’s the new guy. Quinn McKeyen – tall, gorgeous and deliciously American. His mischievous grin and slow Midwestern drawl turn my insides to mush in two seconds flat making me question who I really am and what I really want.

Seriously. What am I supposed to do with all that?! I feel torn between them, but I barely even know who I am, let alone what I want.

I just hope my indecisive heart will clue me in. And sooner rather than later…before I lose what little of my mind that I have left.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, Coming Of Age

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 13, 2012

About the author

Courtney Cole is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist who loves to eat your emotions for breakfast.

She believes in the power of blonde hair dye and red lipstick, and that a well-timed smile can save the world.

Learn more about Courtney and her books at www.courtneycolecreates.com

Find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/courtneyc...

Reviews

[Eunice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mia's Heart was a fun, quick and lovely read. Although it has two of the things I wouldn't want together in a book - amnesia and love triangle - I was surprised to find myself not at all really bothered by it and I actually sped through this! However, I had some slight issues with it that prevents me from really liking it. Still, I enjoyed most parts of it.

Mia Giannis was a character I wasn't really sure about when I first read her. I liked the fierceness and the bad ass vibe about her but I'm not quite fond of her initial image before the amnesia. So when she lost her memories that had me pretty interested. I wanna see how this new Mia will turn out, I was fascinated by how she rediscovered her memories and found her true self.

Quinn MacKeyen and Gavin Ariastasis were the two love interest in this story. Now, love triangle isn't something I'm very fond of. As much as possible I avoid and steer clear of them however when I started this I didn't know this has one. Fortunately, the love triangle here wasn't the kind that is headache inducing. I admit that I'm a little sad because I was cheering the wrong team still I wasn't really devastated by it. Or maybe I was a little uncaring by it?

Now with the boys, Gavin Ariastasis was a fun fun character! I liked him instantly. He was Mia's best friend. He's a character that is laid back, easy going and yes, cocky. Yet, there's something in him that tells he's a pretty deep character. Quinn MacKeyen, well, like Mia said he's "deliciously American". Despite his good looks he was a really humble character. He could be every girl's dream of a boyfriend. However, he was described too perfectly and well, that's just boring. I was looking for flaws, even tiny bits, but nothing, he was too good to be true. So in the end, I guess, I just grew pretty indifferent about him.

I liked the story, but not like really like. Some parts I found quite shallow and the writing was a little more on telling than showing. Some things were handled lightly though I think they should be told with more depth. Nonetheless, despite the issues I had, I did enjoy most parts of this book. Almost all the characters were likable and I liked most was how the friendship between all of them grew. If you're looking for a light, fun and sweet read, you might want to check this out.

Thanks to Courtney Cole and Kismet Book Touring for providing a review copy of this book.

This review is also posted at Book Overdose

[Autumn Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember telling the author that I really liked Mia after I had read Dante's Girl. When she told me that Mia would have her own book I was thrilled! Mia's Heart was everything I expected it to be; fun, flirty, and well-written.

Mia's always been a bit of a rebel. She has a tough time following the rules her parents have set in place. She has piercings, dyes her hair with bright colors, and tends to live a bit dangerously. After the earthquake, she's changed. I mean...obviously since she can't remember anything, but she's also gained a new perspective on life. I enjoyed watching Mia rediscover herself.

As for the boys and the romance....what's not to like about Quinn and Gavin. Quinn is a dreamy cowboy that Mia likes, but isn't really sure she wants to. Gavin is her best friend. They've grown up together, but since her memory loss she thinks there might be something more. This is one of those times I don't mind love triangles. You know when you like both boys and you as a reader have a tough time choosing? Yep, that's how it was for me. I mean, I was pulling for Quinn, but Gavin tugged at me too. I honestly would have been happy with either turn out, but to fit the flow of the series...it worked out the way it was supposed to.

I was thrilled that Reese and Dante came back to the island. I had been sad when I thought they would be back in the US for the rest of the series. It was fun to see them return and I loved seeing them still so in love with each other.

Mia's Heart was a great addition to this easy reading series. If you're looking to start a funny, flirty, and sweet series...check this one out. It's perfectly suited for readers who enjoy YA Contemporaries. Appropriate for mature 15+ readers.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because of the characters and because I liked the first in the series. I did find the whole amnesia piece a little difficult to handle, not because Mia having amnesia wasn't believable, but because of the Gavin-Quinn split. I honestly got more excited by the idea of Mia and Gavin together and couldn't work up any enthusiasm for her with Quinn. In fact, I found the way she and Quinn fell for each other too convenient. Even though I know that a book three about Gavin is coming, and I'm looking forward to it, I would have preferred to see Quinn in book three and Mia and Gavin get together in this one. I'm just hoping Gavin isn't going to fall for Becca, because that would be way too convenient.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved the first book in this series, Dante's Girl, so I was so excited to be able to read Mia's Heart. The setting of the book is again the beautiful island of Caberra, which is located not far from Greece. We met Mia in Dante's Girl. He father is the Ministry of Defense for Caberra, and she, Dante, and Gavin are best friends. When Reece, Dante's girlfriend from Kansas entered the picture, they soon became BFF's also. The other character in this story, we heard a lot about in book one and got to meet him briefly, is Quinn, who is also from Kansas and now is an exchange student living with Dante's Giliberti's family. Dante's father is the Prime Minister of Caberra. Mia has always been rebellious, dying her hair black with streaks of vibrant color, she is outspoken, and a bit of a badass, according to her friends. She has a rather "difficult" relationship with her mother and the two always seem to be at odds with one another. Mia's mom expects her to act and dress a certain way because of her father's position, and Mia doesn't think she ought to have to be forced to be someone she isn't, and sort of takes it to the extreme in the other direction. She is taken aback when she meets Quinn for the first time, especially when he causes her heart to flutter, because she hasn't met a guy who can do this to her before.

Mia and Gavin are best friends and both love to scuba dive and snorkel. On this particular day, Gavin has also invited Quinn to join them. Despite the somewhat rough seas, they head out in Gavin's boat. When Mia and Gavin jump in the water they notice something isn't quite right, they feel a rumble, see a cloud of sediment, and immediately realize what is happening. They get back in the boat as fast as they can and fly back to shore. What they find is devastating. Everything is in shambles, rubble is everywhere, power lines are down, all the after effects of the earthquake they just experienced. Mia insists that they stop by her house to check on her mom, which they do, and they find her house is also in shambles. Determined to make sure her mom is okay, she enters anyway, followed by Quinn and Gavin. Something falls, and the next thing she knows, she is waking up in the hospital unable to remember who she is or anything about her life or the people in it. As Mia recovers, she begins to see Gavin in a whole new light, and then the hot American cowboy Quinn, also does all kinds of fluttery things to her insides. As she struggles to regain her memory and her friends begin to fill her in on who she was and what she was like, she begins to question everything in her life, the way she was, the way she is, who she really is, and what she wants from life, and somewhere along the journey, she finds out what her heart really wants.

I really enjoyed this book. Mia's story was great, and I just loved getting to know her, as she discovered who she really is and what her heart really wants. Gavin and Quinn.....what hotties.......and how's a girl to choose. Gavin is the sexy, dark, tanned, island god whose smile could melt hearts and he seems to know so much about Mia. Then there is Quinn, the cowboy with the lopsided grin who radiates self-confidence, is 6 feet 6 inches of hottness, and even though he has only known Quinn a short time, he seems to see past her facade and read her like book. Needless to say, there are some really interesting things that take place in this story. We also get to see Dante and Reece again, and it was so much fun finding out what was going on with them. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Mia and her family, especially her mom, change as she recovers from this injury. There is a love triangle in this book, but it is really well done, and I have to say Courtney Cole did an excellent job with that, and the whole story. Mia's Heart is fun, entertaining, heart warming, and also has some great romantic moments in it. This was a great second book in this wonderful series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are a YA contemporary romance fan, this is something you should check out.

[Mel Rose (Savvy Rose Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Courtney Cole. Seriously. Her writing style, at least in this series, is light and fun and witty and I just cannot get enough of it. I ADORED "Dante's Girl", the first book of The Paradise Diaries, and as soon as "Mia's Heart" came out I downloaded it immediately and without hesitation.

I did not regret it.

Yes, I'll admit, this book was corny and cheesy and predictable and even silly in parts. It was as big a cliché as you can get, and cynical (or even just stubbornly realistic) readers will absolutely despise it. But that's okay, because for every cynic there is a hopeless romantic like me, absolutely in love with these books and the beautiful stories they contain.

In all honesty, it was a challenge for me to like "Mia's Heart", and I was not quite as enthralled with it as I was with "Dante's Girl". This is because "Mia's Heart" contains not one, but TWO, of my least favorite plot conventions of all time: a love triangle and amnesia. That said, I gave this book a fairly good rating, so it goes without saying that something made the usage of these plot conventions forgivable. Let me explain.

Firstly, as much as I hate love triangles (that would be A LOT, in case you were wondering. I hate them A LOT.) this one was done masterfully. I was honestly uncertain about who would end up together in the end, and it took me quite a while to even decide who I WANTED to end up together, an even bigger surprise for me, because I always have a preference in such matters. In fact, if it hadn't been for something I read about this book before it came out, I would have been totally stumped for a really long time. Additionally, this particular love triangle makes sense in the context of the novel, and goes far beyond a confused girl with one too many sexy guys to choose from. The motivation and explanation behind the feelings is genuine and justifiable. To me, a love triangle this good, this understandable, and this REAL lets me forgive Cole for using the biggest and most despised YA romance plot cliché of all time.

Secondly, the amnesia, while a little "convenient" as far as creating a plethora of plot directions to move in, actually works. The way it comes about makes sense, and the problems it creates seem legitimate. It allows for character development and, in some miraculous way, manages to be the center of the plot without being constantly harped upon.

Finally, those of you who read my review of "Dante's Girl" know that I was devastated to find out this book would revolve around Mia, and not Reece and Dante's continuing relationship. That said, Mia made a FANTASTIC lead character. She went from being a person I enjoyed as a supporting character to a person I wish I could be friends with in real life. Despite everything that happens to her, she doesn't whine. She's strong, smart, independent, and, to use her term: "bad-ass". Additionally, I wasn't sold on the idea of either Gavin or Quinn as a leading man, but they both put my doubts to rest pretty quickly. When Cole brought in Dante and Reece in an unexpected way, I wanted to hug her, but I was happy with the new focus on other characters, and even though I wasn't sure it would work, I am sold on the idea now. I can't wait to read the next book in this series and get better acquainted with even more characters in this fantastic cast Cole has created.

All in all, I can't say enough good things about this book and this series. If you haven't read them yet, you should really go fix that. And Ms. Cole: please get that third book out as soon as possible. I'm already looking forward to it.

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! As good as the first. Courtney Cole is officially one of my favorite authors.

I loved Mia's character from the first book, so I was totally excited when I found out that she would be the heroine in book 2. I Mia didn't disappoint.

I thought it might bother me that Mia loses her memory, but it was well done. She retained what was best about her, but the memory loss allowed her character to evolve. Mia remains our feisty girl, but she loosens up and grows throughout her trial. And I really liked seeing that.

Another part that I was pleasantly surprised about was the love triangle. I thought it would annoy me, but it made sense for Mia to be torn between who she's attracted to (Quinn) and the who feels familiar and comfortable (Gavin). I'm sure you know that she ends up with Quinn, if you see the cover, so there was never any doubt how the issue would be resolved but the love triangle was done in a way that it added another element to the book.

I adored both boys. Both were so sweet, and lovable, and, of course, amazingly good-looking.

Quinn was the boy-next-door kind of love interest. He was so endearing and had both me and Mia wrapped around his thumb. I thought that he and Mia were a delightful couple and I was so happy for them when they got their happy ending.

Gavin, as in book 1, was so charming. He was the more sophisticating, debonair, suave, charmer. He was sweet, as well, and I felt so sad when he ended up the one who was hurt in the conclusion of the love triangle. I'm hoping that the next book is about him because I really want him to end up happy.

For those who are wondering, Reece and Dante do make an appearance in this book. It was nice seeing them again and seeing how much their love had grown. It was so sweet. I just love that couple. It was interesting to see them from the perspective of another person. In book 1, of course, we see their relationship through the eyes of uncertainty and insecurity. But, in this book, we see how everyone else sees them: a gorgeous, perfect couple-"like Barbie and Ken" in Mia's words.

The plot of this book, like the last, was well paced. The story picks up immediately and doesn't slow down. The ending was just as perfect as book 1's.

For those who loved Dante's Girl, Mia's Heart is just as excellent!

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Karla Mae (Reads and Thoughts) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dante's Girl really caught my heart when I've read it and finding that there would be a companion novel to it, I can't help but feel enthusiastically happy and excited about it.

But there's a big but in here, Mia's Heart didn’t quite work that well for me. The story was interesting at first but there's this sense of shallowness on it. It was told in a way that things didn’t quite gets deeper than Mia's desire to be herself and her love life complication add up her missing memories. Even the characters aren’t quite explored here. We've seen Mia's problems with her parents but I didn’t quite see the new character, Quinn Mckeyan's real identity, I know he's an exchange student and so? What are other things about him? And Gavin, why the sudden fondness and uber flirtiness with memory lacking Mia?

Maybe I’m just comparing it to Dante’s Girl but I don’t know, maybe this story was just a bit shorter and it seems like there’s some dragging moments.

The love triangle was pretty hard here because most of the time on stories with love triangles I get to easily pick who I want the girl to end up with but here it was one tough job. Gavin was sweet and funny and he knows the real Mia while Quinn is the understanding new boy who gets to see what lies beneath the Mia. Good thing, a hint was given along the way and it leads me to the right guy. ;)

The amnesia thing happened in a snap of a finger, one time they’re out there having fun then the next moment she doesn’t have any memory left. The way it happened really makes sense to me and this is where the plot of the story mainly revolved in Mia's discovery of who she really is.

Dante and Reece also make another appearance here! Yipee! I miss those two and seeing them here having a closer and stronger relationship makes me want to read another book about them.

In all, I can't say that I love love love this but Mia's heart was an okay read. Maybe it could be longer and other details could be added up but anyhow this series is still definitely worth reading and seeing that Gavin will have his story next, I can’t wait to read it.

[Zoe and the Edge]

I didn't rate this because half-way through I read a review that said this book contained sex in it. So I stopped reading it. The End.



I’m going to snap.
And maybe kill somebody.
And I won’t look good in an orange jumpsuit.
Or actually, I probably would. I do look lovely in orange.

Mia is rich and her dad's the Ministry of Defence. Mia's mother can generally control her daughter in most areas but has so far failed to keep Mia away from black clothing and funky hair.
Mia's the rebellious sort of chick looking for self-expression and individuality. She's not very happy. But she does have personality. She's not just one block of stereotype. I liked that she tries to understand her mother.
I think I like the bad-girl heroine because they generally have a bit more spunk.

Quinn - “See something you like?”
And now he’s cocky.
And I like it.

The girl is anti-social and not at all friendly.

Quinn is a simple cowboy with a dirty mouth.

After the Accident....
...Things get interesting. It's like Mia has a clean slate and everyone she loves and doesn't love is trying to recreate her. Mia doesn't even remember her likes and dislikes or the state of her relationships.
I actually found the book rather psychologically puzzling. I kept trying to make my scientific analysis of what was going on but then the author would throw a wrench in my carefully laid out diagnosis. I was pretty confused the way Mia's best friends recapped Mia's life for her. Some of them were like, “You always pretended to be someone you weren't.” And some of them say exactly the opposite.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mia was a force to be reckoned with. She has charm, wit, flare, attitude... she's a kick-butt chick who could attract two seriously major hotties. Problem is, she doesn't know who she really is. Mia was injured during an Earthquake and loses her memory. So, who is she? The old Mia who didn't let others push her around, not even her mom? Or the new Mia who cries easily, is supposedly the perfect child according to her mom and complies easily? That's what Mia would like to know... who is she? And when she finds out, can she combined the two Mia's and be happy?

She also needs to figure out who she's really in love with. Is it Quinn, all American home town football hero? Or is it Gavin, BFF surfer-looking hottie? Which boy will walk way with the girl? And which one ends up with a broken heart?

I was glad to see Dante and Reece make an appearance. I felt Reece was a better side character in this book rather than in her own story, Dante's Girl. Elena is back and as mean as ever.

This was a quick read that I really enjoyed. I loved Mia's banter with Gavin and Quinn. I loved her spunk and humor. I loved Reece. She was an awesome BFF and gave good advice to Mia. I liked how Mia discovers herself and learned how to mend fences with her parents.

I would have liked some clarification on what happened to Nate from the first book.

[Gayatri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well.... This was an interesting book. I never came across a character who got amnesia in the beginning of the story so points for something original.
There was a love triangle but, I was rooting for Quinn. I don't know something about Gavin I did not like. He may be an amazing guy but he hides behind that happy -go lucky feel too much. Quinn was completely open and he said what he felt. Thats what I liked about him the most. Mia is confusing. I'm guessing she's trying to find out who she is and she does. I love how she realises she's not a complete rebel but, she doesn't always go by the rules as well. I liked the book. It was a light book, I can't say I loved it.

[Ana]

Cover love!

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Such an adorable love story. Love it! :)

[Madelyn Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great book! I like how Mia can recreate herself, change how she is and try to build a better her. And with all her memories gone she tries to bring everyone together especially her mom.

The love triangle was so matched, like you couldn't tell who she really wanted. But from the beginning I rooted for QUINN! And I seriously hate Elena.

[Jess (The Cozy Reader) Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Officially reviewed on the blog while on the Blog Tour:
http://thecozyreader.com/2012/12/blog...

Procurement
eARC via Kismet Book Touring

MY GRADE
Plot: 4
Setting: 5
Writing: 5
Originality: 3
Characters: 4
Romance: 4
OVERALL: 25/30 = 83%
Title/Cover Bonus: 5

OVERALL
A great addition to follow the amazing Dante’s Girl. Looking forward to the next one!

First Line

Five times.
That’s how many times I have looked at the clock while my mother has been lecturing me.

Most Memorable Scene
Skinny dipping! Horseback riding.

Plot
After the many environmental disasters that have happened recently I wasn’t surprised to see it as a focal point for a contemporary romance. Without giving too much away I liked how the event brought the characters closer together. Seeing them all work together to help the community as well as each other was nice. Having a reason to bring Reece and Dante back was also another bonus!

Setting

Oh, Caberra is amazing. It was sad to envision the destruction that happened to the lovely place but Courtney does an amazing job at fixing and putting everything back in it’s proper place. The setting is not a major part of this story but helps set the mood in a few scenes. Overall, the setting in this series is as beautiful as paradise.

Writing
Just like with Dante’s Girl this book was very well thought out. Told from Mia’s point of view and it’s nice to see her character go through her issues. I feel like Mia did a great job with the narration and don’t feel like I missed anything story wise from other characters. I must say I have a massive soft spot for Gavin and wouldn’t have minded a scene from his POV.

Originality
This is the only area I struggled with while reading. There are SO MANY common areas in this to Dante’s Girl. When Mia runs down the hall in her heels just like Reece did I had to roll my eyes just a smidgen. That scene was followed by a scene by the pool as well.

Characters
We know Mia pretty well from Dante’s Girl but she’s going through something major. She’s a bit different but in a good way. We are also familiar with Quinn from what Reece told us in the first book. I find that I wanted to know a bit more about him then what we did learn. And then there’s Gavin. Oh Gavin, you had me in the first book and this one you’ve managed to hook me again. I hope the next book is all his, he deserves great happiness and he is so swoon-worthy it hurts my heart.

Having Reece and Dante back was nice.

Romance
The romance in this one seems a little setup, obviously. The issue that Mia is working through makes the romance a little tricky. Because of the trickiness I didn’t get that crazy love feeling I did in the first book. I was pulled in two different directions and because of my love for one of the characters I wanted the one thing to work out when I KNEW it wasn’t going to.

Title/Cover Bonus
These covers are amazing. The title to this one isn’t amazing but it works fine.

Ending
It ended how I thought it would. I was happy with the ending and I am hoping for another book. Preferrably with Gavin’s happily ever after.

[Cyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: YA Contemporary
THEME: Romance
RECEIVED: Book Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
I was really excited to read the next installment to The Paradise Diaries by Courtney Cole. The first book pulled me into the romance of two young adults and continues with Mia’s Heart, once again in the beautiful Caberra Valese. Lately I've been really addicted to the contemporary romances and even though a girl getting amnesia and tries to follow her heart has been done before, I adored this book and its characters.

Mia’s heart follows Mia who just lost her memory and is trying to figure out who she is and the girl she’s “suppose” to be. While trying to put the pieces together she is sucked into a love triangle with Gavin her best friend and an American boy Quinn who makes her heart beat a little bit faster. All in all Mia just wants to know who she is and where her heart belongs.

Mia was a thrill, she has a tough girl attitude and is very independent. I enjoyed that she could hold her own as a lead character and the readers could connect with her right away. Mia really struggles trying to remember her life but I love how the readers see the change in her character from the first book to now. She really goes after what she wants and we also get some great moments with her mother. I’m really picky when it comes to character development and I think Cole did a fantastic job with Mia.

Now comes the love triangle, as probably many feel the same, I’m not a fan of them. Ever since Twilight I guess you can say I feel they are over done. But for this story it didn’t bother me as much, I think it has to do with the fact I liked both guys. Quinn and Gavin are very different but I loved them both and seriously didn’t know which one I wanted Mia with. I thought it was interesting the Cole decided to make Quinn Reece’s crush from the first book as a love interest. She feels that connection with Quinn but Gavin has known her longest, it’s a tough decision. Heck I wouldn’t be able to choose but in the end I was happy with how it all went.

Overall I loved this book; I like when an author connects their series and still brings in the characters from the previous stories. Reece and Dante’s story was finished but we still get to see how their relationship is going. As in the first book there were some repetitive moments but for this type of novel I felt it didn’t matter, the romance was sweet and there were cute moments that just made me smile. Once again I would totally want to visit Caberra and I can’t wait to read the next installment to this series. Cole’s writing really pulled me into the romance and the characters as always are memorable.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with romance and mystery, fans of Stephanie Perkins Anna and the Fench Kiss and Jennifer Echols Such a Rush will love Dante’s Girl by Courtney Cole.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLICK HERE TO READ MY FULL REVIEW AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

Mia's Heart by Courtney Cole was a great addition to The Paradise Diaries. The Paradise Diaries is a fun, adventurous series that is perfect for young adults. The Paradise Diaries isn't a paranormal series, but there is a magical, other worldly vibe to this companion series. Some of the storyline in Dante's Girls and Mia's Heart is a little farfetched, but everything that happens in this series could potentially happen. Reading this series is like stepping into another world, and in my opinion, that's what makes this series so great. One of the biggest things that makes this series seem other worldly is the setting. This series takes place in Valese, Caberra, which is ruled by a different political hierarchy than the United Staes. Each of the main charcters in this companion series are children of wealthy, influential politicians. While the fame, wealth, and elite social standing sound like the most amazing things in the world, they also come with a heavy price. The main characters in this series must balance what they want with what is expected of them, and trust me, those two things are not always the same thing.

Mia, the main character in Mia's Heart, has always rebelled against what is expected of her. She wears a lot of black clothing and she accessories her hair with colorful streaks. It's safe to say that she likes to get a reaction from people, especially her parents. She's tough, ornery, and a little bit of a bad ass.

After a tragedy hits Caberra, Mia wakes up without her memory. She no longer recognizes herself or the girl she used to be. To make matters worse, she is extremely attracted to two equally sexy guys and she doesn't know how to pick between them without her memory.

I loved the romance in this novel. I also really like how Courtney Cole illustrated Mia's identity crisis. She did a great job explaining how some of her rebelliousness was done for a reaction. I enjoyed watching Mia discover who she was. I also really enjoyed watching her relationship with her mother evolve. I think a lot of teens and young adults will be able to relate to Mia's relationship with her mother.

I gave Mia's Heart (Paradise Diaries #2) by Courtney Cole 4 STARS (3.5 STARS). I recommend this cute, sweet romance novel to young adults who are looking for a light, fun read.

-XOXO

READING, EATING AND DREAMING

[Julchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a wonderfully light read! I’m completely hooked on the series. It may not be as profound as other books, but sometimes something like this is exactly what you need to relax and forget the world around you for a bit. I liked its predecessor better, but that’s mainly because I could relate to Reece more easily than I could to Mia.

I loved Mia’s voice. She’s easy to like, totally badass and sassy… and there aren’t not enough characters like her out there! I still don’t know what to think about the love triangle she ended up being stuck in. It felt a bit forced, not to mention that it didn’t exactly endear Gavin to me. He’s taking advantage of the situation and being Mia’s best friend, as he claims he is, he shouldn’t be. She’s lost her memory, she’s vulnerable and not herself. It never occurs to him that no matter how she feels about him now, her feelings are probably going to change as soon as she regains her memory—which is exactly what happens, and he’s so upset that he takes it out on Quinn. Really, what did he expect? Okay, clearly, he wasn’t thinking rationally—when do you ever when your heart is concerned?—but still. I was very put out with him because he blames Mia for something that she has no control over.

Mia’s relationship to her parents: They try to use the fact that she’s lost her memory to their advantage, and I really, really hope that no parent out there would ever do that. It feels so wrong to me to try to change your child because she doesn’t live up to your expectations. Yes, Mia could be more understanding, but it’s hard to be understanding if you’re being criticised constantly. Her mother being the way she is, her change of heart came very sudden and was hard to believe.

Not sure if this next bit is really a spoiler, but I’ll hide it just to be on the safe side.
What I really, really like about this series – and this may sound weird – is that C.C. doesn’t have a problem with having her teenage characters have sex. Because let’s face it, teenagers being teenagers, they do have sex, no matter how hard we’d like to think otherwise. And personally, I don’t see what’s wrong with it as long as they’re in a committed relationship and absolutely certain that this is what they want.

Despite my issues with Gavin, I am looking forward to the next in the series.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

“I sigh and stare out the window.
And ponder my life.
Because I live in a bubble.
A fragile, beautiful, misleading bubble.” (Mia’s Heart ARC Pg. 3)

Mia’s heart is one of loneliness, confusion and love.

From the second I read the first sentence of this book I knew I liked Mia. I connect to the line above because I constantly feel like I am living in a bubble of idealism that leaves me with being confused of what I want out of my life. My connection with Mia lasted the whole book as she changed throughout dealing with amnesia. I never experienced amnesia myself, but I believe Mia’s lost memory was portrayed in a realistic manner. I like how Cole illustrated Mia musky memories.

“I am still for a moment. My memory is a strange thing. As I think, I can remember bits and pieces of things. I see a car. A red convertible. I think it’s mine, but it ;ight not be.” (Mia’s Heart ARC pg. 34)

Mia’s heart is one of spunk, inner courage and amity.

Mia is a brave character who deals with her problem, not with ease, but with natural determination. So is her best friend Gavin. Gavin is a vivacious boy I adore, a caring friend and witty. Quinn is the new boy in this book’s setting of an island, Caberra. He is a charming guy. I applaud how Mia tried to be friends with her pre-memory lost enemy Elena now that she does not remember the cause of their animosity. Elena is the one-dimensional mean girl of the story that has room to grow. I am hoping for a book between Gavin and Elena in the future.

The plot of the book was the only unsatisfactory part in my reading experience. I enjoy romantic stories, and felt the beginning of the story was strong, especially the hilarious scene where Mia met Quinn and the crab. Sadly, the remainder of the story was a flux of Mia having feelings for Gavin and then for Quinn, and hanging out with Reese and her other friends. The plot was too repetitive for my taste and my attention drifted away from the story towards the middle of the book.

Mia’s Heart was a light, fun book with a spectacular main character. You should check it out. Meeting Mia, Gavin and Quinn is worth the read!

Originally posted at Unforgettable Books

[Jax O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mia's Heart picks up immediately following the conclusion of Dante's Girl. After the attempted assassination of the Prime Minister of Valese; Reece was whisked away to return hometown in Kansas. Dante's creative and heart warming ending was perfect for the transition into this second story, and jealousy resulting in the exchange of Quinn McKeney was hiliarious. Little did I know that this switch would set the stage for a romance in book two. After completing this second installment I am having a very difficult time comparing, because even after the devoted love I felt toward book one I think Mia's Heart might have turned out even better. From the start I completely fell in love with Dante and Reece, but it was surprising how much more I found with Mia and Quinn. Quinn is an American Cowboy in the middle of paradise. Really!!! What is not to love? Secondly, Mia's character is just kick a**. I loved her in book one, and as her own story unfolds I found even more to her than I would have imagined. As I spent the majority of this book rooting for the two of them it was a long and tedious ride. It seems it took longer to get around to the romance in this story than that of Dante and Reece's story, but it was well worth the wait. While I love Gavin there was something all along that just made me want to lash out irrationally when they come together for their brief stint. I don't know what it is in particular about him, but Quinn just seems so much more REAL... He is not afraid to tell it like it is, or what he thinks even if it throws him out of his comfort zone. Gavin just seems to be more a yes man; he will accomplish whatever it takes to please you. I don't want a pleaser; give me a man that will tell you when you wrong and stand up for you when your right... AKA Quinn!!!! All of the Paradise Diaries are clean young adult romances that will make your heart skip a beat. I am anxious to she what Cole will do with Gavin in book three. Will he continue to be the person we have know, or like Mia will this twist his character. More importantly, will a special someone make him into a even better man.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer JO~

[Stina Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review here: http://zodiacbookreviews.blogspot.com...

Mia Giannis is always fighting with her mother about her clothes, her actions, her friends, just about everything and how it could reflect on her father. Being the daughter of the Secretary of Defense of Caberra has a lot of expectations, when Mia just wants to be herself, not who her parents want her to be.

When a devastating earthquake rocks Caberra, Mia rushes home looking for her mother and finds her house reduced to rubble. Determined to find her mother within the wreckage, Mia along with Gavin and Quinn, search what's left of the house. While in the remains of her bedroom, another aftershock rocks the house and a piece of debris hits Mia on the head, resulting in her having amnesia.

Now Mia must navigate truths and deceptions to know what is real. This is a time for Mia to find who she really is and who her heart truly wants.

Mia's relationship with her mother is NOT very good in the beginning of the book. The earthquake and Mia's amnesia are what change their relationship for the better, with her father too. What I didn't like was how her parents used her amnesia to make her into the daughter they want her to be. Going so far as to dye her hair back to its natural color and removing her nose ring while she's unconscious in the hospital. I mean, who does that? It's just so wrong.

The two love interests are Mia's childhood friend, Gavin Ariastasis and Reece's childhood friends from Kansas, Quinn McKeyen. Mia loves them both, but for different reasons. But she has trouble figuring out what her heart wants, when she doesn't even really know herself yet.

I noticed that the pool at the Old Palace is a popular place to cry ones heart out. First it was Reece when she saw Elena and Dante together, then Mia after she talks to Gavin when he walked out of the ballroom after seeing Mia and Quinn dancing and the look she was giving him. It's like a Pool of Sorrow or something.

I loved reading Mia's story and it was great seeing Reece and Dante again. I can't wait for the next book!

[Margarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an excellent sequel to The Paradise Diaries Series!

Mia is Dante's old friend, they've known each other since they started grade school and she's also Reece's new best friend. But after everything that happened in Dante's Girl, Reece and Dante couldn't bare to be apart and Dante decided to finish high school with Reece back in America, leaving Mia alone and bitter for being left behind. Her only friend being her other grade school chum, Gavin - the class clown and adventurer that knows exactly how to distract her and put a smile on her face.
Mia is quite the spunky rebellious teen who thrives to do the opposite of what he parents want her to do and be. When she meets Quinn, the foreign exchange student that is staying at Dante's home, who also happens to be Reece's ex-crush, and is instantly drawn to his southern charm and boyish looks, the new school year doesn't look so bleak anymore.

Before anything can really happen, Mia suffers a head injury and has amnesia.

Mia has no idea who anyone is, what has happened or what her name is. Confused, lost and frustrated - through her gut instincts, she soon discovers that her personality does not fit what her parents are telling her, that she was just as lost and confused then as she is now, and could her friend, Gavin, be more than that? Or is Quinn the one that she was falling for?
But how can she let matters of the heart take priority over remembering who she was?
Does she want to remember? Or should she start fresh again... with Gavin?
Or Quinn?

I have to admit, both Gavin and Quinn made my head spin - I was just as confused as Mia was. They're both exceptionally well-meaning, caring and charming boys. They both wanted what was best for Mia...
or do they?

Courtney Cole has a gift for creating mesmerizing and memorable characters that every can fall in love with. Mia's heart was another fast-paced page-turner that is definitely a must read!
I am really looking forward to the third book in this series!

[Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Dante’s Girl I couldn’t wait to go back to Caberra, a true land of paradise, and fall in love all over again. I have to say that I’m becoming a serious fan of companion novels, the perfect way to revisit the characters you love, without it being overkill. Courtney’s writing is still just as hilarious and fun as the first.

In Mia’s Heart, we get to see everything through the eyes of Dante’s friend Mia, who is an outgoing, wild-child kind of girl with a good heart. After she gets amnesia, she struggles with rediscovering herself, saving her relationship with her parents, and finding love. Mia is definitely an individual, with her love of colored stripes in her hair and a personality to go right along with it. Probably the only thing that really got to me about this book was how repetitive it got with Mia’s amnesia. Her inner monologue about not remembering anything and things along that line was a bit too much for me, but I still breezed right through it. Oh, and I loved that Dante and Reece make a pleasantly surprising appearance in this book. I knew that their “presence” would be noted here and there, but I honestly didn’t expect to see so much of them.

Gavin and Quinn are both amazing. They’re both hot, sweet, and wickedly charming. I honestly didn’t know who I liked more, although I did have a soft spot for Gavin (I’m such a sucker for those cocky, playful guys). I loved how Courtney took the thought of a guy/girl best friend situation and gave it a different light, since Mia lost her memory. I saw how much Gavin and Mia care for each other, and they have some awesome chemistry. And Quinn is such a genuinely good guy, who ends up doing quite a few wonderful things for Mia that any girl would fall head over heels for. Who does she choose?! How can she choose?!

Mia’s Heart pulled me right back into this wonderful world of beauty and love, I devoured every word. Although it didn’t have as many smexy, swoony times as Dante’s Girl, I still enjoyed and loved every minute of it. I can’t wait to read the next one!

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to give a huge thank you to Kismet tours for allowing me to be on this tour. I have to say that Courtney Cole has captured my heart with her writing. She captures you right from the beginning and Mia's Heart is another story that had me on the edge of my seat. Her first book to the series Dante's Girl had me swooning like crazy so when Mia's Heart came out I just devoured it in one night and I could not put it down. This is one of those series where you can't get enough of the places and the characters you meet. The setting for Mia's Heart is in Valese Caberra Greece.

Mia has been in a natural disaster that has left her with amnesia. She does not remember anyone or anything from her past life. So as her parents try to put the pieces back together for Mia she is slowly regaining who she was and she does not like who she was. She wants to start fresh and change the way she does things and the ways he treats people. She has a best friend Gavin who she shares everything with and he knows her like the back of his hand. Gavin tells her how she was and everything they did and she can not believe she never wanted to date him. Mia knows that is about to change because she is starting to have feelings for him and she knows that could be a bad thing because they are after all best friends.

Then Mia meets the handsome American Quinn and she is torn because she is starting to like Quinn. He is quirky but there is something there. She likes how he gets her and they share some time together but what about Gavin? Where does that leave Gavin who knows her inside out? Can she chose who she will love or will both leave her? She has some decisions to make but she is torn because not only is her love life in crisis but she is still trying to figure who she is and who she wants to be. Come along and enjoy this heart felt book about a girl discovering who she was and learning how to be who she wants to be.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Mia in the first book in this series, Dante’s Girl, and I loved her from the start. She was spunky and sassy and moody…all the things that make a character fun to read about! I was happy to hear that she was being given the opportunity to tell us her own story and I definitely enjoyed reading it! This book is about overcoming obstacles, it’s about friendship and it’s about love. What more can you ask for?

In this story, Mia goes through a life-changing event…an accident that takes away her memories, not just of her past experiences but also of who she used to be. She’s left to question the world around her and to assemble her own personality from the pieces provided by others. But it’s also a fresh start, a new page…she can re-write her own story and I love that! And I love that she believes she can take the best of her old and new selves if she so chooses! Of course, lucky Mia also gets to choose between two great guys. Gavin and Quinn are both swoonworthy guys. It’s been a very long time since I’ve read a book where it took me 3/4 of the story to pick a team! Both of these guys were wonderful in their own way and helped Mia put her life back together. This is one of those rare occasions where a love triangle makes sense! Eventually, of course, I did select my favorite and so did Mia…but I won’t tell you who either of us picked so that you can make up your own mind. I was also happy to have Dante and Reece back in this book. They were the main characters in the first book and I gladly embraced their appearance in this story.

Once again, the setting, a beautiful Mediterranean country, is perfect and makes you wish you were there…the characters are vivid and likeable…the book is a quick fun read…and, of course, it leaves you smiling if you love love like I do! So, what are you waiting for?

[Jessica Vargas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Una estrella y creo que abuse, que patética novela. Primero me encanto todo eso de perder la memoria, pero como iban a pasando las paginas mas odiaba a Mia primero todo es culpa de ella quiera o no primero lo Vicent nadie la obligo esta con el además ella fue la que se le puso en los ojos, segundo me enojo que no quedara con su mejor amigos, además que lo amenazo en los últimos capítulos, y es increíble. Deteste este libro como no tienen idea, al final Mia quedo sin una personalidad. Se dejo de manera indirecta manipular por su mama que descepcion tan grande, el libro anterior me consto leerlo dure varios meses para poder terminarlo, pero al final me encanto.Pero este fue todo lo contrario lo lei en un dia y el principio me encanto pero el final ella fue la débil, la gatica que todo le pasaba a ella y por eso llego a culpa a mucha gente aunque nunca se llego a expresar en el escrito. Desde hace un tiempo vengo ser exigente con los escritores, porque tiene que pensar que uno se mete en la historia, yo siempre que leo siento que soy parte de la historia, rio, lloro y disfruto con ello y por eso cuando hacen algo que no tiene que ser me enojo. Este libro me dejo muy enojada creo que espere mucho te este escrito. Espero que en el próximo libro que tenga que leer de esta escritora no me decepciones. Ademas que el estadouniresen dejo a Gavin mal parado como si el fuera el peor,por dejar a mia en mucha oportunidades, el no entiende que para el se le olvidaba que algunos momentos se olvidaba que mia no recordaba, obvio que esto no afectaba de ninguna manera al estado unirese porque el no la conocía. Creo que si sigo comentando como me pareció este libro llegaría hacer una gran lista de imperfecciones

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been anxiously awaiting the return of Mia, Gavin, Quinn, Reece and Dante. Dante's Girl was such a sweet, fun read and I couldn't wait to find out if Mia was going to get her happily ever after as well.

Poor Mia! Really, I can't imagine waking up and not knowing anyone, not even yourself. How terrifying not to know anything about who you are, how you feel about someone, what you like or hate! If that's not enough, now she has the added stress of falling for a gorgeous guy. Wait...make that two gorgeous guys. She now has to decide which boy she's in love with and which one is just a friend. The stunning boy she's known all her life but can't remember or the rugged cowboy that makes her heart race?

Luckily her best friends Reece and Dante come back ready to help Mia get her memories back and to help clean and rebuild the beautiful city of Caberra. There is a lot to love about this novel but one of my favorite parts was how gentle Reece was with Mia. She is always there for her and selflessly helps her through every scary, confusing moment. Even though Mia can't remember Reece she can see why Reece was her best friend.

I really enjoyed the way Cole had Mia grow without the edge of all of the resentment she had held onto with her mother. It was interesting to see her become basically who she had been without all that anger. As for the boys I definitely had my favorite picked out well before Mia did.

Mia's Heart is a sweet novel that [aired up with a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night just might have the ability to make your teeth ache (in a good way). I'm really curious to see what and who the next book has in store for us.

[Tishia (Paperback Opinion) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mia's Heart is the second book in The Paradise Diaries series by Courtney Cole. It's a wonderful young adult novel about a girl named Mia who loses her memory. Despite everyone trying to remind her of everything, she struggles to remember anything. Most of all, she struggles with not knowing who she really is. Her love life is a mess. She finds herself being attracted to Gavin, her best friend that she has known for years. But there is also Quinn, the guy from America that she met shortly before her head injury. It's hard to know who you should be with when you don't even know yourself.

I enjoyed this book very much. Mia is a very likable character and you can't help but feel sorry for her. It would be scary to wake up and not remember a thing about your life. She's very easy to connect with. The situation she faced made her grow as a person throughout the book.

The love triangle was interesting. For the first half of the book, I couldn't decide which guy I liked better – much like Mia. Both guys had great qualities and she didn't want to hurt either one. In the end, I'm glad she went with the decision she made.

I liked this book even better than the first, Dante's Girl. Reading the first book isn't really required before reading this one. The main characters in this book were just background characters in the first. I'm glad that Mia got her own story. For the guy that Mia didn't choose - I would like to see him get his own story as well. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult contemporary romances. I would recommend it to older teens though, because there are some adult situations involved.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Paradisa Diaries are always a breath of fresh air for me! Courtney does a great job of just taking you away and dropping off in paradise!

Mia's Heart is a follow up to Dante's Girl where we met Reece, Mia, Dante, Gavin. This book is obviously all about Mia and I love it. Mia is the little rebelious one and bit of spit-fire! In Mia's heart she feels all alone because Dante and Reece are back in Kansas and spending their senior year there while Mia is stuck by herself with Gavin. And then comes in Quinn whom she forgot was going to be school with them via the Student Exchange Program. Quinn and Reece used to crush on each other and Reece told Mia all about that but it just never worked out. But she is blown away by what she sees when she meets him for the first time. But an accident happens and Mia's memory is gone.

Mia struggles through her life daily as she tries to remember who she is and who she wants to be. It's like starting all over, right!?! She knows that Gavin is one of her best friends and she feels immediately safe with him. She doesn't really know Quinn but is immediately taken with him and also feels a different sort of safeness with him. Mia is trying to figure out who she was before and who she wants to be so adding guys into the mix just adds more problesms for her.

Courtney Cole does a great with all the details in not only the characters but in their surroundings. I love the plot and her writing is superb (no surprise to me though)!

I can't wait for the next book in this series!!

Great read and definitely recommended!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay hate it when you take time to wright a review and it doesn't save!!

This was a really fun light chic lit. read, it was perfect for the mood I was in. This book is all about Mia, but the cool thing is that we do get lots of Reese and Dante as well. It was nice to watch their relationship continue to evolve. Mia has a life altering experience which allows her to start a new. Which is kind of a good thing for Mia. Mia has this tough exterior shell that is so tough I am not sure she even enjoyed keeping up the act. So I think it is a relief in some ways even for her to have a second chance. There are good things though about the old Mia too. I liked her directness and how she went after things she wanted and she wouldn't let people walk all over her. The new Mia is good too though, she doesn't hide under this facade she has going on so we get more real Mia moments which I liked. This makes it all interesting to for her BFF and their relationship hmmm very interesting. To be honest sometimes I liked where it was heading and sometimes I didn't. Then through in the hot new foreign exchange student with cowboy hat and boots with a knockout grin and walla you have the ingredients for a marvelous mess. Which said mess is very entertaining.
There were some moments that seemed a little repetitive, but overall a really cute fun read.

content:
language mild to moderate
clean read pushes limits, lots of sexual tension and innuendos, sex no details

[Savannah (Books With Bite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtney Cole has quickly become one of my fave authors. Creating wonderful story lines along with amazing characters, I know that once I immerse myself in her story, there's no looking back.

What I loved most about this book is the plot line. The reader is introduce to Mia who has lived a life so calculated Everything must be presentable. Everything must be in order. And Mia, like every other teen has rebelled. So when she loose her memory, I was anxious to see if she would change or come back just as she was. I like that Mia does change as she does see's herself in a different light. Mia's loosing her memory helped her look at the bigger picture instead of the confined box she was in.

Now, the love interest definitely took me on a spin. I like that Mia has a friend from the past and once from the present fighting for her heart. Both guys are admirable but only one truly loves her. I enjoyed how each male fought her affection fairly. With Mia's loosing her memory, each guy has a fair shot. Along with other calamity going on, Mia learns so much a bout herself as well as others around her. She learns to fight for what she believes in her heart.

Mia's Heart is a beautiful romantic story, filled with stolen moments. It's a timeless romantic of finding love right in front of your face. Mia's Heart is a stunning romance that you will love.