Più delle parole. More than words

Where love meets destiny #3

by Mia Sheridan

Jessica aveva undici anni quando ha incontrato per la prima volta Callen Hayes, e ha subito riconosciuto in lui il rifugio sicuro di cui aveva bisogno, il principe dagli occhi tristi che sarebbe riuscito a strapparla dai suoi problemi. Così è stato, fino a quando Callen non le ha regalato il più straordinario, indimenticabile bacio della sua vita... ed è scomparso nel nulla, senza una parola. Sono passati anni da allora, e Callen Hayes è diventato un famoso compositore, noto in tutto il mondo per il suo talento ma anche per la pessima reputazione. Nessuno conosce i demoni interiori che lo tormentano e lui non sembra intenzionato a fare nulla per impedire che lo distruggano. Ma, in un giorno che sembrava come tutti gli altri, incontra l’unica persona in grado di far tornare un po’ di luce nella sua vita: Jessica. La sua Jessie. Così fresca, pura e innocente. E così dannatamente irresistibile. Jessie e Callen appartengono a due mondi diversi. Tra loro ci sono troppe ferite aperte, troppi segreti, troppe bugie. E, soprattutto, un sentimento troppo intenso che somiglia spaventosamente all’amore.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers, New Adult, Second Chance, Music

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2018

Reviews

[CristiinaReads୨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➳Childhood friends, missing each other for years after growing apart, with the help of fate they are brought back together again in this heart-warming and fluttering romance novel by Mia…



➳Have you ever read the novels by an author that instantly you know you will forever start bawling your eyes out with tears of joy and sadness? My go to author in this category would one hundred percent have to be MIA SHERIDAN since all her novels always seem to bring the worst tears in me and make me look like a lunatic. Guess what? I honestly do not care as long as the story captivates me and my tears are worth the falling. MORE THAN WORDS has become that appreciative in regards to being emotional. Once you start this novel there is no turning back for sure. Callen and Jessica are two fascinating characters that are drawn to the imagination of the reader through the best of ways, both romantic and emotionally. A heartbroken childhood is what brings them together to that one abandoned train boxcar. The fairytales, tales old as time, expressing the beauty of them all, Jessie and Callun learn that confiding with each other is what each other’s hearts need to mend their childhood hearts over the actions their parents have caused. With their love of music though, Callun and Jessica also learn how to put together the broken pieces of their broken minds.

➳After a year of their friendship, and after one sudden, unexpected kiss, Jessie and Callun end up turning different paths due Callun’s father moving away from their current small town. Years later, after meeting through paths that non of them saw coming, Callun and Jessie find each other in Paris one unexpected night. Now as adults, their childish admiration towards each other still lingered, but the attraction and lust also took over their body’s reactions and their thoughtful minds. Jessica, being the smart one about knowing whats best, she wants to keep their new found attraction to the midst of not expanding it since she does not want to get her heart broken by Callun. He has other ideas though, being known as a jerk, moody, and famous song writer, he does everything he can to try and swoon her over and make her feel at least something towards him. With Callun though, you can tell his internal struggles at trying to figure out whether he wants to spend time with Jessie for the long haul. He doesn’t feel or think he deserves her in any way;

“… and in that moment I did feel like a prince. Her prince. My heart beat to the music that began to rise inside me once again. Pulsing. Sultry. Both dark and beautiful, speaking of this thing between us…”

➳There are many messages behind this novel in which one learns to admire and learns to adore more and more of Mia’s writing. That being said, the phrase “actions speak louder than words” is one that should be taken into consideration when starting this novel filled with so many majestic, and romantic sceneries. Not many would be able to handle the emotional aspect of it, but that’s what’s so elegant about Mia’s writing— everything she has to acquire, she expresses it very thoroughly to the reader through her writing in an imagery way.



➳Overall, this romance novel has once again captivated the aspect of knowing what would be correct to call a romance of proper priorities. Everything about it has expressed to me that Mia’s writing will never stop being one of my favorites and of course it will never stop making me cry my eyes out. Thank you to the wonderful Estelle at FOREVER ROMANCE for sending me a copy of this beauty in which I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/morethanwordsAMZ
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/morethanwordsBN
Apple: http://bit.ly/morethanwordsiBooks
Kobo: http://bit.ly/morethanwordsKobo

➳ARC kindly provided by my favorite publicist at Forever Romance in exchange for an honest review...

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[V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but Goodreads editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards]

UPCOMING RANT

I love Archer's voice. It's the kind of book that I love: No cheating, no OW drama, no slut-shaming, a manly hero who never acts like a boy. I recommend it to my friends all the time. If you haven't read it, you should definitely check it out. Mia Sheridan really knows how to make a book poignant and beautiful. Her 1st person narrative style works perfectly to convey the emotions of the characters. Some years ago I really enjoyed another book of this author called Leo. My reading taste has changed since then so I won't ever reread, but I reread Archer's voice at least once a year.

I'm on the fence on this one because the blurb screams of my personal pet-peeves. Why? Was it necessary for him to fall in love with h and then go away and then sleep with someone else? While she waits 10 effin years saving herself? How is that fair? I wouldn't wish 10 years of celibacy while hero sleeps around, if that's what the blurb is implying to my worst enemy (not that I have one). Why do authors do that to their own creations? Don't they love their female protagonists as much as they expect us readers to love them? This is 2018 so why there's still this attitude in romance books from authors who started through self-publishing that is so unequal and unfair to women? Like "men can't live without sex" but women not only can but if they save themselves for their heroes and accept their misdemeanors they'll get their HEA's. How is that fair or romantic? But is there really a HEA when their heroes can't control their sexual urges? If he's in love with her why would he even get remotely tempted by other woman? I know that's supposedly more "realistic", but don't we have enough of that on television and movies? Books is the only media where we still can find couples who never get apart, that once they fall in love there's no one else for them, why do contemporary romance authors insist on making things "realistic" Isn't romance the ultimate fantasy? The magic place where we can find men we wouldn't find in real life?

So he was in love but couldn't keep it in his pants? Put a leash on it, if you have to but please! Don't sleep with someone else. Have respect for women! They're not there to be your toys. Not even if they "ask for it". At the very least have respect for yourself man. If you "can't stop thinking about heroine" then don't do it with someone else, be loyal to your own feelings.

My friends and I love virgin heroes like Archer Hale. Unlike my friends of the romance safety gang who are getting tired of the virgin heroine I actually love first timers. I love virgins who are kinky, sassy and bad ass (Promise of fire, V girl, The queen of all that lives)I wish there were more books with both virgins (Transcendence, breaking dawn and puddle jumping come to my mind) but give me at least one member of the couple as a first timer and I'm a happy girl. BUT NOT LIKE THIS. I want my heroines to suffer and find a worthy hero. Otherwise the HEA's are ruined.

I have friends who love the manwhore-virgin combo so if you like that I think you should check this book out. As I said Mia is an amazing writer and you might enjoy it more. I'll wait for more reviews, but it doesn't sound like this one is for me.

Then why I'm writing this? Because I hope my review can elicit some discussion and books recommendations of books safe of this trope. I also hope it can help the right reader (the ones who love the virgin-manwhore combo) find this book and then perhaps, later they'll read Archer's voice.

[Maditales · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story was meh and Callen was toxic but I can’t get over the past scenes…
WHY DO WE HAVE A VERY WEIRDLY DETAILED KISSING SCENE OF A 12 YEAR OLD??????

No one and I mean NO ONE wants to read that. Ever.

[Maddy ✨ ~The Verse Vixen {AFK} · Rating 1 out of 5]

~"More Than Words" by Mia Sheridan –or More Than I Could Tolerate
⭐ Rating: 1/5

OH BOYYYYYYY! LET'S GOOOOOOOO
"Let me stretch up my patience before I write this one"-



Alright, buckle up because this ride was not the "sweet childhood friends turned lovers" trope I thought I signed up for. I was ready to get cozy with the “grumpy, mysterious, secretly soft” guy who just needs a little nudge. What did I get instead???

Ah, Callen and Jessie—two childhood sweethearts with broken families who had a few cute moments together until -BOOM - let's find out ...
So, everything is going okay in the beginning, right? Classic childhood friends, then they kiss. Aww, cute. But then, hold the phone—next day? He’s gone. Poof. Vanished into thin air like Houdini with no emotional explanation. But hey, don’t worry—10 years later, he reappears as a “music composer” (aka manwhore in denial) who spends his life on repeat: fuck-alcohol-fuck-alcohol-fuck-alcohol-fuck-alcohol-fuck He’s got no time for feelings because he’s working late... But spoiler alert: he’s not working on his music, he’s just working overtime at the “manwhore” factory. What a hero, right?



Now, let’s talk about how this guy completely forgot about her until she was no longer important enough to remember, and even then, he barely recognizes her. He shows up at the bar where she’s working part-time and does a quick “Hmm, that girl looks familiar but nah, let’s just pretend she’s a random brunette.” He’s into blondes, so what’s a little thing like recognizing a childhood friend, right?

But wait, things get so much worse. He pulls her into the bathroom for a kiss (because nothing says romance like a public restroom), then asks her to “come home” with him. For what, you ask? Well, not for a heart-to-heart chat or a nice dinner. Nope, it’s just to add her to his lineup of “fuck buddies.” And then, in a plot twist that I didn’t see coming (mostly because I was too busy rolling my eyes), his blonde date shows up and says, “Can’t wait to be fucked by you tonight!”and yes he asked her to come home as well ..... Is this supposed to be romantic? Is this the new definition of a love triangle? Because I’m not feeling it.I’m sure there’s a bouquet of roses waiting at his apartment—somewhere under the pile of used condoms and bad decisions.

But oh no, the pain doesn’t end there. After breaking her heart twice, this absolute gem of a guy finally remembers her—because of course, he does—during her vacation, where she’s working hard on her translator gig. This guy just doesn’t stop. He finally recognizes her, asks her to dinner (wow, what a gentleman), and then—shocker—one of his other hookups waltzes in, telling him how much she’s looking forward to “going hot-tubbing” with him. Sir, is this a competition? Is there a sign-up sheet for your attention? thank-fuck FMC rejects his offer, yet he follows her like everywhere.asking to enjoy vacation with him. indirectly asking her to be his fuck-buddy now that b*tch agree 👍 WT-The girl who’s spent her entire life avoiding toxic relationships because her dad was a cheater.but u never knw .



—But hold up, here comes the grand finale. You know how every good love story has the couple overcoming their differences and finding their way back to each other? Yeah, well, here’s what happens instead: She still ends up with him. Let me repeat that for you: She STILL ends up with him.The guy who’s slept with half of the city and didn’t remember her name two minutes ago. Love it. Truly a plot twist of the century.



And then, after all the emotional rollercoaster of toxic behavior, they sleep together again. And he has the AUDACITY to ask, “Where have you been?” Excuse me? Where has she been? She’s been living her life while you were out there collecting more women than your calendar has days. But sure, blame her for not being available to get emotionally destroyed by you for the past 10 years. Truly a gentleman.sometimes he even forgets to write or complete his work , u knw coz ...
Thank you, Mia Sheridan, for redefining “overtime.”





🎧- He is working lateeeeeeeeeee coz , he is a Singerrrrrrrrrrrrr Fucker

~Dear Author :here’s the thing,We love a grumpy guy. We do. The brooding, misunderstood guy who’s hiding layers of complexity behind a tough exterior. But this? This is a whole other level of toxic. This is emotional manipulation. This guy is the kind of guy who thinks “working late” is a valid excuse for being a manwhore, and the kind who can barely finish a sentence because his brain’s been pickled by alcohol and poor life choices. And the worst part? He still thinks he can just waltz back in and act like everything’s fine. Like, no, sweetie, you don’t get to just show up after leaving her high and dry, then turning into a walking STD, and expect things to magically fix themselves.

If you’re looking for a grumpy, misunderstood guy who gets his redemption arc? Look elsewhere. If you want to read about a guy who’s emotionally unavailable and does not deserve a second chance? Welcome to More Than Words—a masterclass in how to screw up a love story.

[KAS · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Oh, how I love an enticing prologue! I devoured this book in one day’s time.

A friends to lovers romance is one of my favorite tropes. Callen and Jessica meet randomly at age 12, develop a friendship that only lasted two years. For reasons unknown to Jessica, Callen just up and disappears. Fast forward 10 years ...

  And why should I be heartbroken? He owed me nothing. I had known him for only a brief span of time so long ago, when we were both children. So he had grown up to be a conceited, womanizing manwhore--a wildly successful, crazy talented, conceited, womanizing manwhore.

Callen did not grow up to be the doting, All-American boy girls dream about taking home to meet the parents. He is a man with unrelenting demons. Demons he unsuccessfully tries to drown out with booze and women.

Fate reunites Callen and Jessica in France. She for a job, and he for a two week vacation. He desperately wants to spend time with Jessica while he is in Paris, but she doesn’t want to risk getting her heart broken knowing full well he will leave her for a second time.

Mia Sheridan sure knows how to write a compelling, engaging romance.

As a side note - although Callen is described as a manwhore, of which I would completely agree, there is no infidelity within this storyline.

[jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

usually when i finish a book and i go to write a review/rate it, i attempt to be thorough and dissect it bit by bit. i try to evaluate how i felt about the writing, the characters, the plot, the pacing, etc. but i have found when it comes to contemporary romance novels, that all goes out the window. because the only thing i can focus on is how the book made me feel emotionally afterwards. its never the specific components but always how my heart felt when i read the last word. and man, was this book something.

okay, i dont want to spoil anything, but let me just say the title of this book holds some serious heaviness - i get so moved just thinking about it. not to be too cheesy, but there are several ways to express love and many of them go beyond the use of words. i absolutely adore how this book explored that idea and delivered such a humble message in a really meaningful way.

this story also talked a lot about fate and how things that are meant to be, will be. i sometimes think thats quite difficult to write about whilst also having the story be realistic, but this book is proof that it can be done! the emotions described in this story are ones that i think most people can relate to feeling.

its safe to say a book as touching and sweet as this was definitely something i needed after a long weekend of binge reading a fantasy series. i would highly recommend this to anyone needing a quick love story with a heartwarming message set in the romantic french countryside. perfect for fans of colleen hoover!!

PS. if anyone is interested - if i had rated this like i normally do, i probably would have given it 4 stars instead.

↠ 4.5 stars

[Jenny••Steamy Reads Blog•• · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captured my attention and wouldn’t let it go. I got absorbed in Callen & Jessie’s world and I loved it. However, I will be honest I did start skimming the history writings after halfway about the ancient writings Jessie was working on. I was too enraptured in finding out how Callen & Jessie’s story played out.



Callen is a troubled, lost soul that drowns his pain and numbs his mind in alcohol and women to forget his abusive upbringing. His one happy memory is his light shining of Jessica Creswell, his Jessie. He is taken away from her when his dad relocates them to another city. He loses himself in the love of music. He writes and composes movie themes and has captured the stardom and becomes an instant celebrity. So on a rooftop in Paris, 10 years after losing touch from her prince, does Jessie actually recognize the man that walked away without a word?

Jessie Creswell, she’s simply amazing. Smart, beautiful, gentle, and so very kind. She has had an upbringing that no kid wants to remember. Her trust in men is shattered after watching her dad repeatedly cheat on her mom. So after losing the boy she loved as a teen, she followed his stardom in the tabloids as she watched him work his way through many women. So how does she treat an unexpected reunion? Does she forget what he is or will Callen not even remember her?



I was so invested in seeing the good in these characters. I wanted them to have their happily ever afters. I wanted them to overcome their pasts and have only bright and happy futures. This book teetered on heartbreak at around 80% for me. My heart dropped, it cried, and it was ugly mad. YET this fantastic author, she knows how to write a good book, oh yes she does❤️





Without giving anymore away, I hands down recommend this read. Bear with the ancient history parts, they do have meaning☺️ so pick this one up!!! Releasing June 12th!!

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Live fiercely and without regret."

I have a feeling the above quote will be a popular one among readers, and I've seen quite a few early reviews include it in their thoughts, but it's hard to find another phrase that sums up the overall feel of More Than Words quite as well. I've heard all the buzz surrounding one of the author's previous novels, Archer's Voice, and knew I needed to jump on the opportunity to read this one to see what was up. After finishing MTW, I need to rush out and buy AV immediately because I'm hooked! While this one is completely fine to read as a standalone, I see why all the readers who have been following Mia's books for years might feel a deeper connection, as her writing is full-bodied and covers a wide range of thematic elements and emotion.

More Than Words is a prime example of how my tastes in genre reading have evolved as I grow older. Besides the fact that I've grown into a semi-regular reader of romance, I find that I actually slow down my reading during a book I've sunk into, as opposed to the "flip the pages as fast as you can because that's the only sign you're enjoying a book" Chelsea that I used to be. The characters here are driven, developed, and larger than life, the plot is layered, intriguing, and gripping, and I found my emotions were on a wild rollercoaster of feels that I couldn't control. I can't say anything about the plot, as you should just read it for yourself, but I am so glad to have read this one and freely recommend it to all type of romance readers, and even those who occasionally veer off the beaten path of their comfortable books to search out a solid love story.

*I received a copy for review from the publisher via NetGalley. 

[Julia]

Screw this shit. I’m so tired of the same three plot lines. Manwhore gets the virgin after years of thinking himself “undeserving” is a garbage plot. Fuck off with your purity bullshit.

*can you tell I’m seething right now*

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}


My heart overflowed with the love I felt for him, the ease with which we talked about everything and nothing, and the magical feel of this weekend, in this village where fate had somehow delivered us. And though I’d given myself to him knowing it wouldn’t last, I allowed myself to pretend it might, just for now. Just for tonight.






I love Mia Sheridan’s stories. They’re always heartfelt and her characters face somewhat impossible challenges during their lives but the prize is fairytale-like romance overflowing with unconditional love. The main characters meet at the tender age of eleven. Neither were fortunate enough to be blessed with the best parents and to escape their unhealthy environments, they hung out in an abandoned train car where they'd go on many fantastic journeys with the help of their books and wild imaginations, but one day without warning, the boy disappears and is never to be seen again.




Twelve years later, fate brings the two together at a hotel in a quaint little town in France. Callen has become a world-famous music composer and Jessie has just landed her dream job translating the lost journals of one of Joan of Arc's closest confidantes. Callen is famous for his drunken escapades with countless women and when he tries to make the moves on Jessie, she is far from eager to jump into a romantic entanglement with him. She has protected her heart for so many years that she is afraid of making the same mistakes that destroyed her mother.




Callen is haunted by the mental abuse he was subjected to by his father as a child. He’s never felt anything for any woman because his heart has always belonged to Jessie and he truly believes all the horrible things his father called him. So Callen is also reluctant to get involved with Jessie because he knows she deserves far better than him.



Both Callen and Jessie seem to be drowning in self-loathing and insecurities. And just when the two find the courage to take a chance on each other a secret that gets revealed has the power to tear them apart once more.




Here are my overall ratings

Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4
Angst: 4
Steam: 4
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4


MORE THAN WORDS is currently available.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JvDSgx
Paperback: https://amzn.to/2JHFtf9
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2JsIy6O
iTunes: https://apple.co/2iJXMYv
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2JL89ay
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2ibKAaW

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5-5 STARS

More than Words was exactly what I needed and even more!I devour it, I love the story from the beginning!It was brilliant,emotional and sweet!I loved the dual POV in this one so much because this makes the story more intimidate for me!



This story is about Callen and Jessie who met when they were young and both came from families with problems.Together they have some good times but some circumstances tore them apart!Now they met again after years and they have changed but the connection between them and the chemistry is still here!I love their intense moments!

Mia Sheridan completely drew me into Jessie and Callen's story!From beginning to end the journey is captivating!I loved the writing, as always Mia has a way with her words!I highly recommend it to everyone!

 

  

[Christy]

Putting this one on hold for now... I'm almost half way through and not invested. I'll try to get back into it closer to release x

[Katerina]

I don't want to see any fuckery with this one Mia. A nice and safe read marginally replicating Archer would be brilliant, thank you.

[Dilek VT]

Our virgin heroine follows the boy she loves on tabloids and social media while he becomes a star and f*cks his way through lots of women. Oh la la la, how much fun is that, right?

[♡ Jeri's Book Attic ♡ Jeri the Romance Bibiliophile ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Archers Voice and titled it “the most beautiful first kiss ever”...
I read Leo and several others are also still on my reading list – so how could I not jump at the chance to review the latest book from Mia Sheridan ~ when already the first glimpse of the Blurb promised so much.

“More Than Words” is just like its title ~ this book is more than its words. And just like other books before from this author it left me speechless. So I am honestly sitting here staring at my blank review sheet and wonder how much I should tell other readers about this book.

I feel every tiny bit would be too much.

Let me at least tell you this. Like in previous books the author has a magical way to bring the leading characters to your heart. They sneak in before you even realize it happened.
Callen and Jessica are beautifully written – inside and out

In addition to these beautiful leads the author not only creates well developed secondary characters, but also a wonderful setting in which the story takes place.

I am well acquainted with the setting that the author choose as I have good friends in that country / area that I visit every year. Especially in the city that is named after the person that is essential in this book (cryptic much – sorry – spoilers) … So I found myself often sitting on a bench right in the middle of that city staring at a statue of that person and thinking about reasons and choices. I was about to attach some of my own pictures of places and that statue to this review but then I thought about spoilers and refrained from it.

Maybe it is due to my knowledge of this place but I really felt the setting. This area can be magical I have seen places there that seem to be timeless , they will capture the visitors and you will find them in your dreams. I KNEW what the author described about the characters feelings when they were there – so it felt real– including the tiniest rain drop – so very real.

I hope that other readers will fall in love with these characters, their story and the stetting as much as I did.

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[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great romance between Jessie, a student of French who loves translating old documents, and Callum, the boy she meets in her teens and introduces to music, who grows up to be a world-famous composer. I loved their first meeting when they were young, and also the tension when they meet again as adults after a separation. This book had a great mix of tension and romance, with Callum facing writer’s block, and having lived a playboy’s life that Jessie wants no part of. Her work in France and the French setting was also nice.

The reveals that came later in the book were well done and didn’t feel manufactured. This was a romance that just worked really really well. I loved the way it slowly unfolded and watching the two of them struggle to find their happy ending.

Trigger Warnings: child abuse

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

[NMmomof4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Overall Opinion: This was an enjoyable read. Mia Sheridan is going to remain one of my go-to authors when I'm looking for a new book. She is great at giving us damaged characters with depth and making me feel for them! That being said, I don't think this is going at the top of my MS mental book list. It was enjoyable, I liked both characters, I felt...but something still felt missing. I wasn't completely consumed by this book like I've been with some of her other works. I can't even really say what it was! 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️ All in all, an enjoyable read -- just not going to be a favorite.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jessie and Callen's story. Jessie is trying to escape her fighting parents and comes across beaten Callen one day when they were kids. They become best friends and spend all the time they can with each other until Callen abruptly disappears without a trace. Many years later, they are reunited in France where Jessie is trying to start her career as a translator of old French and Callen is a famous classical composer that is suffering from writers block. There are some sweet scenes, some sexy times, and some sad baggage they have to deal with...and they get a HEA ending.

POV: This alternated between Jessie and Callen's POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed, and I thought it flowed well.

Instalove: No, but some residual feelings from their past were there when reunited.

H rating: 4 stars. Callen. He was a mess! I found it hard not to hurt for him and like him though. I loved how he cared for the h.

h rating: 4.5 stars. Jessie. I really liked her. She was smart, sweet, and I loved how she cared for the H.

Sadness level: Low/moderate. I cried a few times, but I never needed any tissues.

Push/Pull:Yes They both push away and also pursue the relationship at times. I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship.

Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW/OM drama: Yes There's is a fan of the H that propositions him a few times around the h, and at one point the H sends the h away by making her think he is going to sleep with this OW. The H's agent's wife is also found (uninvited) in her underwear in his hotel room by the h and H.

Sex scene with OW or OM: No A scene of the aftermath of a drunken ONS (with his agent's wife), but not a descriptive sex scene. This happens before the h and H are fully reunited.

Cheating: No The H is hurt and makes it seem like he is going to be with OW to the h, but isn't with the OW.

Separation: Yes They are separated for about 4 months. The H is seen in tabloids with OW, but he was never with any of them sexually. There was no mention or suggestion of other partners for the h during this time.

Possible Triggers: Yes Child abuse (H's dad mostly off page and some descriptive scenes through memories), loss of a parent (off page), H has a learning disability and can't read (dyslexia?), H was a manwhore before h with alcohol abuse, the h was a virgin, and unexpected pregnancy.

Closure: This had a cute epilogue that provided good closure and tied everything together nicely. Even though it doesn't hit my normal qualifiers for a "HEA", I actually felt pretty content with their ending here enough to call it a HEA It doesn't specify if they're married or not (at least I didn't notice it), they're living together, their careers are good, and they have a toddler

Safety: This one is probably either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.

- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does have a separation between the h and H
- Does have abuse
- Does have a HEA ending

[Dísir · Rating 1 out of 5]

The blurb for ‘More of You’ was intriguing and given that there are some of Mia Sheridan’s work I do like, I have to say that this book tested my patience and crossed several personal boundaries for me: adultery and cheating, even though it’s probably Sheridan’s idea to show how far Callen had fallen before the journey of his redemption begins, with a girl whom he’d once shared some dreams with.

From the start, I had the inkling that ‘flights of fancy’ might have been the phrase to describe the sort of relationship Jessica and Callen had. In the prologue, Jessica and Callen had a connection forged in in fairytales and fantasies which felt fanciful for me, but then this is probably my cynical self speaking—I found it less grounded in reality and more wrapped in cotton-wool in fact. Granted, as children, seeking to escape the difficult situations at home, this was a scenario that I could accept.

But it was hard to continue thereafter—maintaining objectivity was harder if I was supposed to be invested in this story as a romance—when it became clear Callen wasn’t a character who had integrity, whose reprehensible, degenerate behaviour wasn’t what I could or wanted to root for in the beginning, much less care about his journey back to ’normalcy’ from the start. Having spent most of the book insisting that he was could not be the man Jessica deserved and pushing her away merely gave weight to what he really was after all: unworthy. 

That Jessica, who remained an inexperienced virgin throughout the 10 years and kept trying to see him as her prince with rose-coloured glasses didn't make her any less bewildering or weak a character for doing so. Her caving so easily to his charms while he became a manwhore was the last straw for me, especially when it sounded like this was going to be a contrived virgin-saves-the-rake-with-her-purity-and-goodness sort of tale.

I couldn't scrub my mind off this book quickly enough. I never quite thought this day would come, but my stabby, explosive and fit-throwing reaction to ‘More of You’ is probably a good sign that Mia Sheridan and I need to part ways.

*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾]

4 STARS

Sometimes the beginning of love is just a simple matter of proximity.

More Than Words was a wonderfully swoony and emotional story of fated meetings and second chances. I was enamored with the book from the prologue.

I'm here to save you.

As a little girl, Jessica Creswell finds Callen Hayes when he needs her the most. Inside an abandoned boxcar they forge a friendship and a bond of young innocence and painful childhoods. Both of them have their own family issues, but that's what ultimately forms the bond between them. Only after a friendship of make believe games and fairy tales, Callen disappears from her life as suddenly as he entered it.

Years later, fate brings them together once more. But Callen is no longer that sweet boy that gave her her first kiss. He's a famous composer, jaded by life, and a man that uses countless faceless women and alcohol to dull his hidden pain.

Callen was a character that my heart absolutely bled for. He's so devastatingly broken and yearning for everything that Jessica means to him all these years later, but he knows that he doesn't deserve her. Jessica was almost a little too pure for my particular taste, but she did balance Callen. Although admittedly, at times I found her a little too much of a naive dreamer for everything that she's been through. She almost felt like a martyr for Callen at times for all the risks she takes for him and how quick to overlook some of his issues she is. But it also fit her character, so it didn't bother me too much.

The story is very emotionally charged and character driven. Allen has a lot of issues that he has to face and work through, and I was glued to the pages to see how it all comes together. I really loved the way he was with Jessica. There's just something so pure and innocent in their connection, even all those years later that I couldn't get enough of.

There's a bit of a historical mystery that unravels parallel to the story as Jessica works through the translations for the museum that she works for. While I can see how it connected to the story, I wasn't as invested in that particular part and it was more of a distraction from the main story for me. The connection between Jessie and Callen stood on it's own, and I personally didn't feel that added storyline added anything to the dynamic. But that's just my own personal bias.

All in all, this was a beautiful and emotional story that I connected with. Sure there were some parts that didn't work for me, but the story was solid enough for me to overlook that and truly enjoy it.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

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[⋆ ༻ Rue ༺⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

What was the point?

[emma ⚘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ˙⋆✮

this was cute. will i ever think about it again? no. i honestly don’t think any of her books can top Archer’s Voice. this couple in particular was just not as exciting to read about. it’s not as if they didn’t love each other…they did. but all the talk of fate and destiny was getting on my nerves. and the HISTORY part. not my cup of tea. i’m gonna be so honest right now, i could care fucking less about Joan of Arc. i could get cancelled for saying that, but i’m trying to read my romance book in peace and then all of a sudden there’s this weird ass font on the page about some random girls from the 1400s?? and i know it’s supposed to connect to Callen and Jessica, I DONT CARE. i could’ve skipped all of those parts and i would have been perfectly fine.

also my enjoyment of this was mostly affected by Callen. i get he’s famous and has to find a way to cope with his past trauma. but i would not want to be with a man that just gives himself out freely to other women like it’s nothing. i sound so toxic but i physically cannot get behind that. when he first met Jessica, he was drunk and forgot who she was..even though they’re supposed to be childhood friends. instead of just chatting with her, he was immediately obsessing over her looks and decided it’d be a good idea to kiss her to “relieve himself.” a MAN should have some restraint. there are better ways to cope with pain. and i know I have no idea because i don’t know what he went through and thousands of celebrities do it……but he didn’t even have a proper talk with Jessica later on in the book apologizing for the person he was. instead, he tried to make her pity him and make his actions sound excusable.

i make him sound terrible but he was still good to Jessica. it’s mostly me, and not this book. they were cute together and i liked their scenes. especially the rain and their picnics together. it was a bit unrealistic, but it’s a book. that’s why i read them—to escape from reality and fill that empty little hole inside my heart.

overall, Mia Sheridan’s books have been enjoyable to read. buutttt i think we’ll be parting ways for a while. i need to read something other than romance for once 😭

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 33%

Mia Sheridan is SO hit-or-miss for me, and this was a solid miss, unfortunately. I'm rating it 2 stars instead of 1 only in the off chance that the rest of the book somehow got better, but I just couldn't force myself to read any more of it. The book starts off with a prologue where the main characters meet as children, and then the first chapter starts 10 years later. Where they almost immediately meet again for the first time in a decade. There wasn't nearly enough back story to make me feel the least bit sympathetic toward Callen, the manwhore, or Jessica, the bland pretty girl. Once it came out that she was a virgin, BECAUSE OF COURSE SHE IS A VIRGIN, I gave up on this book. This was just too bland. But hey, maybe the other two-thirds of the book would have proven me wrong? Either way this was a very, very slow and boring start of a book for an author that I *know* can write much better.

[Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of "loved you since childhood" romances then check this one out. A very solid read!

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: More Than Words
Author: Mia Sheridan
Genre: Romance
Publication Date: June 12, 2018

There are absolutely no words to describe More Than Words except No one does it better than Mia Sheridan.
More Than Words is insane.
I strive to be honest so I will say that this book requires a little attention and a little will to read. Why you ask? Well, The book starts off strong.. half way to finishing the first chapter I'm like "YES! I can feel it! I feel that I am going to really enjoy reading this book.", then there's a slight incline where If I am honest made me go "I don't feel it anymore, maybe finish it later?", but I brushed that feeling off and continued on and Lo and Behold! Callen and Jessica steals your breath away! From there on out, you are utterly captivated by the storyline.

It is true when they say that, No one lays open the heart and soul quite like Mia Sheridan.
Callen and Jessica's story is heartfelt and beautiful... This book really acknowledges the fact that a simple act of kindness, a simple unintentional beacon of light in times of darkness and confusion has a huge impact on others life.
When I was reading this book, I highlighted so many sentences because they were absolutely beautiful to read but as I write this review, I feel like as if picking one would be an injustice to the others. Yes, this book is a fairy tale... yes, it is filled with angst, moments of endearment and fear.. but I must say that More Than Words is more than just a typical romance novel.
Set in one of my dream destination, this book has stolen my heart... More Than Words is a story within a story.
A book by the end, will leave you with Goosebumps all over your body.

If you are reading this, I apologise if the review wasn't much to go on or the fact that I haven't disclosed much about the characters. What I will say is this... Pre-order the book. You won't regret buying this book..Have you read the synopsis? If that wasn't good enough...expect more.. expect a book that will make you believe in love and kindness. If that isn't enough, It's a Mia Sheridan book. Enough said , right?

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“No one ever makes me feel like you princess Jessie, no one ever will’.

Most of All You is the most highly anticipated romance from Mia Sheridan and if you’re a fan of her previous work, then you’re expectations have to be extremely high. This author obviously knows what she’s doing when it comes to writing her stories, and even though she might seem to go the other direction with her storyline sometimes, she’s never far from trying to give her readers what they want and that is true romance.

With a prologue that set the stage for an unlikely friendship between two kids who came from different upbringings, I was on cloud nine with this introduction. I felt the uncertainty, the inevitable bond, and the looming heartbreak that was to come. Jessie and Callen were two kids who met by pure fate and from a moment of sadness, who over the next year will turn out to be each other’s saving grace. But sadly one day is going to hinder their relationship and in it’s wake, is going to be a ten year absence.



With years already in their rearview and having separate careers, fate has one again decided to intervene and reunite Jessie and Callen in the city of love. Now a famous music composer and French translator, these two childhood friends will meet again. But everything is not always as it seems and for Callen, his demons never quite left him the day he left his small town. Will these two reunion be a long awaited love story? Or will their own music be silenced before a note is ever played?

As I said previously, I really enjoyed the beginning of the story and I felt that I knew the direction it was heading. Sadly somewhere along the line, I lost interest and I was waiting for something MORE to happen. I needed to feel the heartbreak and the love between these two and all I got was a mild reaction. Now don’t get me wrong, I truly liked certain parts and I loved that this author chose Paris as her main setting, but I just wanted to feel more from these characters.

What didn’t work for me, I think others will relish in and if you’re a fan of this author, then this book will be it for you.



   

[zocharett Kolińska · Rating 2 out of 5]

słabe i absurdalne, ale miało dobre momenty

[Mandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of All You, Sheridan's book published last year, is a favorite of mine. It made me feel all the feels. More Than Words was greatly anticipated, but it misses the mark. We meet Jessica and Callen as teenagers, they randomly meet one day at an abandoned train car, as they are both looking for escapism. Jessica's dad is a serial cheater and her mom falls apart each time. Callen's dad verbally abuses and shames him, so when they meet as strangers, they form a strong bond. They meet several days a week at this train car for a year or so until one day, Callen never shows up again.

Ten years pass and now they are both into their careers. Jessica has a passion for French, and a skill to translate very old French text. She  moves to France to immerse herself in their culture and hopefully find a job, which has been hard to do. But she finally gets offered a dream job of translating documents possibly written by Joan of Arc.

Callen has become a composer, creating scores for video games, and now movies. He is wildly popular, not only for his music, but his good looks. He is known as a bad boy - he takes home a different woman each night, and that is as long as each relationship lasts. Lately, he has had writer's block, unable to write music for a big movie scheduled to release. He has turned to drinking heavily and of course women. He goes to France on vacation, to hopefully clear his head, and runs into Jessica totally out of the blue. Their feelings for each resurface after ten years, but he has to convince her his womanizing days are over.

I did not like Callen. At all. I love a grumpy hero - but Callen is just plain unlikable. He has an ugly attitude. He doesn't treat women that great. He blames everyone but himself. And yes, I know he struggles with the verbal abuse he suffered as a kid. I tried to keep that in mind as he lives his life - but it was hard to give him the benefit of the doubt. Also the fact that ten years later, Jessica is still a virgin - I'm tired of this. Tired of the dude always the manwhore, the heroine always the perfect virgin, waiting for her prince to arrive. Her prince, by the way, who is not worthy.

"God, don't look at me that way, Jessie," he rasped. "I never lied about the life I led. I never promised you anything I couldn't deliver. You agreed to this. No promises. No regrets."

"I know," I said softly. "It's just ..." I shrugged, a self-conscious gesture. I felt to very tender an raw. "You've always been my prince, Callen," I admitted, voicing the thought I'd just had, letting him into my heart. "It hurts to see you as anything else. After this weekend I'd hoped - "

"Stop. I can't be your prince, Jessie. You have to see that."

Yes, because he had a married woman in his hotel room after spending the weekend with Jessica. And this is towards the end of the book. He didn't sleep with her, but he uses women as tools to attack Jessica when feelings get too real. It's gross.

I didn't care for their relationship. Jessica fell flat for me and had no personality. This was a big miss.

Grade: D

[Delaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope

[Betül · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**



4.5 stars

"Live fiercely and without regret."

I am a huge fan of Mia Sheridan's writing and storytelling, I'll blindly one-click her books because I trust her to deliver great stories with even greater characters. The blurb gives you just enough to intrigue and capture your attention. I was addicted to this story from beginning until end. I absolutely loved how Jessie and Callen met. They met at the perfect time, and provided each other with the best memories and support. Especially, Callen would profit the most from meeting Jessie at that certain time in his life. They both come from broken homes but have made the best out of their situations. The attraction between them is obvious when they meet again years later.

"I wanted a man who would fight for me, who would slay dragons for me, and whose love I could count on to be as steady and unchanging as the stars."

What I love the most about this story was the strong connection and love between Jessie and Callen. When these two were together, everything else faded away. They were in their own world and I loved seeing them discovering each other again. I also absolutely enjoyed reading all the historical bits, involving Jessie's job. It just added an extra layer to the story, it was just a pleasant addition to the story for someone who loves anything History related like myself. There was enough individual character development, and I also loved how the characters grew as a couple. The writing was phenomenal like always, and I just couldn't get enough of Jessie and Callen. I can't wait to see what Mia Sheridan has in store for us next.

"Sometimes the beginning of love is just a simple matter of proximity."

[. (rip) · Rating 2 out of 5]

another book i had already read and forgot about it 🤡