A review by bribreez
Unwanted by Mia Sheridan

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

5⭐️/ 3🌶️

*Originally Published as, “Savaged”.

*POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD!

The last time I read this book was when it was originally released as, “Savaged”, and yet, it still captured my attention once again. This story was set within a small town in Montana known as, Helena Springs which was where Harper and Lucas’s story began. This wasn’t just a simple story though, with a murder(s) investigation taking place, the small town was suddenly thrust into a case of interwoven secrets, lies, and lots of plot twists you wouldn’t begin to imagine. Harper was brought onto the case to help, and along the way Lucas somehow became a person of interest with his particular set of skills that made others wary of him. In the midst of everything happening, Harper and Lucas got to know one another, and Harper realized the man no one knew nothing about was so much more than she could have possibly imagined. If you want to read about story about a man who very much gives off, “Tarzan” vibes but in the wilderness then Lucas is your man. A romantic suspense with some thriller aspects, plot twists, danger, and more this was a book that made me fall in love with it all over again! 

The last time I read this book was a while back so to read it again with some adjustments made me intrigued and excited. Harper was an intelligent, detail oriented person with a past that held the loss of her parents as well as some memories she couldn’t exactly remember. Seeing Harper thrusted into the investigation showed her keen ability to pick up on small details that otherwise would have gone overlooked. Things got even more interesting when Harper started talking and spending time with Lucas. Between Harper and Lucas, they were different people who had different upbringings, and yet, the connection the two formed together was fascinating, deep, and profound. 

Lucas was an equally intriguing person who I couldn’t help learning more about as the story progressed. Lucas wasn’t your typical man, he was a man use to living in the wilderness, all alone in solitude, and what Harper called him, “a caveman”. While others lived in civilization, Lucas didn’t and relied on his skills of hunting, sense of smell, animalistic instincts for survival. At the beginning of the story not much is known about Lucas’s story other than no one knew anything about him, and he was very much a man who resembled Tarzan in a way. I found Lucas to be endearing though with the way he would occasionally be shy around Harper when she showed him different things like food he had forgotten about or the way he would slightly blush under Harper’s gaze. Lucas was a big, strong, muscular man who could easily take down a man or animal, but when it came to being around Harper, he felt things he had never felt before, and it just showed how much he longed for that human connection. 

So like I mentioned before, this wasn’t a simple story and it was filled with plot twists and mysteries. By the halfway mark, things got even more interesting especially when Lucas’s real identity was revealed! Through out the story, Lucas and Harper’s story wasn’t the only one being told, but also about Jak. Now, Jak’s role in this story was very significant as it tied into Lucas’s especially in terms of the how, where, and why everything started leading up to Lucas and Harper meeting. Little by little, the parts of everyone’s stories started to connect and it became this interwoven plot. Suffice it to say, Mia Sheridan didn’t disappoint with the way she wrote this story, and I’m telling you once you put the pieces together you’ll be shocked and surprised by everything! 

OH MY GOODNESS! YES! Having read this book again, but in its new format made me fall in love with it AGAIN! I honestly didn’t see a difference aside from the title, but it gave me that special feeling inside similar to when I read this story for the first time. Certain thoughts came back to me, and wow I was just immediately immersed in this book wholeheartedly! I love Jak (Lucas) and Harper, they were fantastic, intriguing, lovable, strong, and endearing. This story was filled with so many wonderful things from the mystery, suspense, danger, and the beautiful romance between Jak and Harper. The connection Jak and Harper shared was emotionally satisfying and it spoke to a deeper level of love that was pure and genuine. I honestly can’t get over how much Jak and Harper fell in love with each other, but also how their lives were so interconnected from the beginning. There was never a dull moment with this book, and it goes to show how much I utterly love Mia Sheridan and her writing. The book kept me going and I refused to stop reading haha. The story ended in a way that was hopeful for Jak and Harper, but equally satisfying for me to see the two of them in the epilogue happily married, enjoying their new home, and a promising future to build upon their happiness. (Sigh) after all the years of pain, loss, and trauma, Jak and Harper finally got their happy ending, and it makes me a bit emotional because I’m so happy for them. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU READ THIS BOOK! GO DO IT RIGHT NOW!