The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
sjsarena's review against another edition
5.0
I did not expect a romance novel to hit me this hard. I was on a roller coaster of emotions but I LOVED IT.
bookstorianreads's review against another edition
1.0
Didn't DNF this but I probably should have. But the time I knew what kind this story was, I was halfway through (no excuse, it should've been obvious from the first few chapters. I blame only myself). Anyway. Ugh. Virgin heroine meets tortured bad boy. Lots of talk about purity and how one doesn't deserve the other. He sees her as his savior, she sees him as her prince. He literally calls her Princess. I mean, seriously? It was hard not to gag.
I liked Archer's Voice well enough, but I think this book made me realize this author is just not for me.
I liked Archer's Voice well enough, but I think this book made me realize this author is just not for me.
danabooklover's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
bernadettebloom's review against another edition
3.0
Callen and Jessica met as kids. They would meet in an abandoned boxcar on the railroad tracks and play made up stories of knights, battles, princes, and princesses based off the books Jessie would read to him. When they meet years later, he's a drunk, womanizing famous composer, and she's a respected French scholar and translator.
Decent enough story, but unfortunately it just doesn't really go much deeper than two broken people fixing each other.
Decent enough story, but unfortunately it just doesn't really go much deeper than two broken people fixing each other.
jeanne115's review against another edition
5.0
I wanna cry. This was the loviest love story I have ever read and I loved it. I hope my life ends with me walking with my lover and child in a field of wildflowers
cassire's review against another edition
5.0
More Than Words was such a treat. It made my romance loving heart happy. It is set in beautiful France. There are elements of history and music tied in. Iâm a fan of all these things.
This was my first read from Mia Sheridan. She has been on my authors I would like to read list for a while now. I dare say that this will not be my last book from her. She writes characters that are flawed and wonderfully real. She took my heart and me on a wonderful ride. More Than Words is a book that you savor reading. It just tings with special, heart touching vibes.
I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book.
This was my first read from Mia Sheridan. She has been on my authors I would like to read list for a while now. I dare say that this will not be my last book from her. She writes characters that are flawed and wonderfully real. She took my heart and me on a wonderful ride. More Than Words is a book that you savor reading. It just tings with special, heart touching vibes.
I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book.
tatumoshea's review against another edition
4.0
I canât decide between a 3 or a 4. The ending felt very similar to Archers Voice with the third act break up but I did enjoy the angst that went along with it. I think iâll go w a 4 simply because I really liked Jessie as a main character, and being inside her head plus the side story was an interesting way to tell the story
laceyc's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Amazing, life changing, she did it again!!Â
hayls657's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bookedbyruqs's review against another edition
4.0
âłChildhood 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 MiaâŚ
Oh, how I love an enticing prologue! I devoured this book in one dayâs time.
Plot:
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 ...
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 doesnât want to risk getting her heart broken knowing full well he will leave her for a second time.
Review continued:
âłHave you ever read the novels by an author that instantly you know you will forever make you emotional? My go to author in this category would one hundred percent have to be MIA SHERIDAN since all her novels always seem to make me 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 otherâs 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.
âłAfter a year of their friendship, and after one sudden, unexpected kiss, Jessie and Callun end up turning different paths due Callunâs 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 bodyâs 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 doesnât feel or think he deserves her in any way.
âłThere are many messages behind this novel in which one learns to admire and learns to adore more and more of Miaâs writing. That being said, the phrase âactions speak louder than wordsâ 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 thatâs whatâs so elegant about Miaâs writingâ everything she has to acquire, she expresses it very thoroughly to the reader through her writing in an imagery way.
Mia Sheridan sure knows how to write a compelling, engaging romance.
Okay, I donât 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.
Characters;
Callen Hayes had such a traumatic childhood and my heart ached for his fucked-up experiences while growing up. He did NOT deserve to be treated that way by his father. Physical abuse is one thing but verbal abuse- it sticks to you even when years have passed... which is obviously what happened to Callen even when he'd reach stardom and success as a music composer. 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, sheâs 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. Jessica Creswell had been mooning about a prince in her make-believe fantasies, away from the bitter reality back in her home. When she met Callen that night, she somehow found hope and started believing that things could possibly turn better and brighter for her. Callen's princess. Even after a couple of years have passed, she hasn't forgotten about him. Not one bit. 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?
Review Continued
"Live fiercely and without regret."
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.
I love Mia Sheridanâs stories. Theyâre always heartfelt and her characters face somewhat impossible challenges during their lives but the prize is fairytale-like romance overflowing with unconditional love.
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.
We also get a bonus romance-within-a-romance that made my book loving heart soar. A secondary storyline in the form of historical writings is running simultaneously through Callen and Jessieâs. I love how Mia Sheridan weaved a secondary storyline that may seem irrelevant to the main plot but eventually it all makes sense. I loved Adelaide and Olivier's story and it developed steadily without overtaking the main plot.
This was such a sweet yet heart-wrenching love story between Callen and Jessica. I adore second-chance stories especially when the couple are total opposites.
I really felt for both of them, Jessica had to witness the breakdown of her mother because her father is a chronic cheater while Callen had to deal with physical and emotional abuse inflicted upon him by his father.
The book also sheds light on Dyslexia and it was really emotional. I won't say much but I always have respect for authors that allow their characters to acknowledge and deal with their disabilities because they always come with struggles.
This is not only a love story but it's also a healing journey. Some past wounds are so deeply engraved that they turn into a haunting spirit chasing you for what feels like an eternity.
Things that couldâve been improved:
Why? Was it necessary for him to fall in love with her and then go away and then sleep with someone else? While she waits 10 effin years saving herself? How is that fair? 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 2023 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. Thatâs one big reason why this book waste a 5 stars. The constant talk and objectification of women pissed me off. Like ok I get it, his a player I understand for âthe sake of the plotâ. But honestly if this whole trope wasnât in there the book wouldâve been so much better. It really didnât have to be in the book to that extent.
I love virgin heroes like Archer Hale. I actually love first timers. Nothing against it. I love virgins who are sassy and bad ass. BUT NOT LIKE THIS. I want my heroines to suffer and find a worthy hero. Otherwise the HEA's are ruined.
Spoilers;
- 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. Heâs 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
Oh, how I love an enticing prologue! I devoured this book in one dayâs time.
Plot:
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 ...
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 doesnât want to risk getting her heart broken knowing full well he will leave her for a second time.
Review continued:
âłHave you ever read the novels by an author that instantly you know you will forever make you emotional? My go to author in this category would one hundred percent have to be MIA SHERIDAN since all her novels always seem to make me 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 otherâs 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.
âłAfter a year of their friendship, and after one sudden, unexpected kiss, Jessie and Callun end up turning different paths due Callunâs 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 bodyâs 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 doesnât feel or think he deserves her in any way.
âłThere are many messages behind this novel in which one learns to admire and learns to adore more and more of Miaâs writing. That being said, the phrase âactions speak louder than wordsâ 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 thatâs whatâs so elegant about Miaâs writingâ everything she has to acquire, she expresses it very thoroughly to the reader through her writing in an imagery way.
Mia Sheridan sure knows how to write a compelling, engaging romance.
Okay, I donât 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.
Characters;
Callen Hayes had such a traumatic childhood and my heart ached for his fucked-up experiences while growing up. He did NOT deserve to be treated that way by his father. Physical abuse is one thing but verbal abuse- it sticks to you even when years have passed... which is obviously what happened to Callen even when he'd reach stardom and success as a music composer. 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, sheâs 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. Jessica Creswell had been mooning about a prince in her make-believe fantasies, away from the bitter reality back in her home. When she met Callen that night, she somehow found hope and started believing that things could possibly turn better and brighter for her. Callen's princess. Even after a couple of years have passed, she hasn't forgotten about him. Not one bit. 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?
Review Continued
"Live fiercely and without regret."
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.
I love Mia Sheridanâs stories. Theyâre always heartfelt and her characters face somewhat impossible challenges during their lives but the prize is fairytale-like romance overflowing with unconditional love.
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.
We also get a bonus romance-within-a-romance that made my book loving heart soar. A secondary storyline in the form of historical writings is running simultaneously through Callen and Jessieâs. I love how Mia Sheridan weaved a secondary storyline that may seem irrelevant to the main plot but eventually it all makes sense. I loved Adelaide and Olivier's story and it developed steadily without overtaking the main plot.
This was such a sweet yet heart-wrenching love story between Callen and Jessica. I adore second-chance stories especially when the couple are total opposites.
I really felt for both of them, Jessica had to witness the breakdown of her mother because her father is a chronic cheater while Callen had to deal with physical and emotional abuse inflicted upon him by his father.
The book also sheds light on Dyslexia and it was really emotional. I won't say much but I always have respect for authors that allow their characters to acknowledge and deal with their disabilities because they always come with struggles.
This is not only a love story but it's also a healing journey. Some past wounds are so deeply engraved that they turn into a haunting spirit chasing you for what feels like an eternity.
Things that couldâve been improved:
Why? Was it necessary for him to fall in love with her and then go away and then sleep with someone else? While she waits 10 effin years saving herself? How is that fair? 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 2023 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. Thatâs one big reason why this book waste a 5 stars. The constant talk and objectification of women pissed me off. Like ok I get it, his a player I understand for âthe sake of the plotâ. But honestly if this whole trope wasnât in there the book wouldâve been so much better. It really didnât have to be in the book to that extent.
I love virgin heroes like Archer Hale. I actually love first timers. Nothing against it. I love virgins who are sassy and bad ass. BUT NOT LIKE THIS. I want my heroines to suffer and find a worthy hero. Otherwise the HEA's are ruined.
Spoilers;
- 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. Heâs 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