More Than Words

I loved it so much. I just wanted something moreeee

Don’t get me wrong, the novel was good, but I feel like the author lacked with the story compared to her other novels.

Even so, it’s worth a read!

I love all of Mia’s books! Definitely a great read. One that will make you believe in fate !

"But I also knew now that life was more than words. It was laughter and love, faith and joy. And mostly, it was the deep peace that came from living fiercely and without regret."

Mia has given her readers another heartfelt story that weaves life lessons throughout, ones that every person needs to be reminded of every now and then, no matter how good they have it. And she does this in a unique way - through the discovery of ancient documents penned by a young woman living in the 1400's.

Words can have a lasting impact on a person, as is the case with the Hero, Callen Hayes, who had ugly words hurled at him as a young boy. Those words have stayed with him into adulthood where the only things that seem to drown them out in his head is lots of booze and women. When he was a child, his friend Jessie was the balm that quieted his mind and soothed his soul. But he was suddenly taken away from her without warning.

Fast forward 10 years and the heroine, Jessie, is working as a waitress in a lounge in Paris. Not her dream job, but her dream location, a place she had told Callen about when they were kids "Someday I'm going to go on the grandest adventure of all - I'm going to live in Paris, have a French boyfriend who writes me the most beautiful love letters <I> ever, and I'm going to eat French chocolate all day long."

When fate brings them together in France, it dredges up so many memories for both of them. Good memories of the times they spent together, but also the bad memories they both have of events that happened when they were kids. And it also shows them the two vastly different paths they each took in the past ten years.

I loved getting the point of view of both Jessie and Callen. Particularly Callen, who appeared to be this successful, award winning composer but in fact was hiding a slew of painful secrets from everyone. The vices he indulged in to numb the constant voices in his head made me very sad.

I admired and loved Jessie. She was a strong young woman who had a good head on her shoulders. She knew what she wanted and was doing everything she could to accomplish the goals she set for herself. As strong as she was, she had a weakness when it came to Callen. She's never forgotten about him, even though he disappeared without a trace when they were kids. He was her Prince and she's held onto that dream for the past 10 years.

Mia masterfully weaves the letters from the young woman in 1400's France that Jessie is translating into the present day. The fears and insecurities the young woman felt, not so different than what Jessie and Callen are feeling now. It is obvious these two are very much in love, but how can they ever forge a path forward when Callen doesn't feel worthy of someone as precious as Jessie is to him?

This story was an emotional roller coaster. I felt all the highs and all the lows these characters felt. I wanted to shake Callen (most of the time) for the things he was doing. I cheered Jessie on when she would put him is his place. I wasn't sure they were going to be able to overcome the obstacles in their path, mainly Callen's fears, the secrets he was hiding, and the way his debauched lifestyle kept rearing its ugly head. But fate has a way of intervening when two people are supposed to be together.

Mia never ceases to amaze me with her storytelling, and this book particularly held so much insight with the way she wove the historical element through present day. I personally love anything history related, and regardless that this is a work of fiction, I absolutely loved reading those translated passages from the past. I waited with baited breath for each one to come so I could find out what was happening with that young woman from so long ago. Would she find her happily ever after? Were Jessie and Callen going to find theirs as well?

Bravo, Mia on this beautiful story of second chance love, forgiveness and redemption. I loved it!

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. I’m 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.

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of childhood friends to lovers romances. More Than Words is the story of Jessica and Callen, who on the outside couldn't be more different, but end up forging a connection that defies time and distance.

A fateful encounter leads to an unlikely friendship between Jessica and Callen, which ends up shaping both of their lives. Both were running from their own problems at home and ended up finding comfort, support, and joy with the other. Their friendship is suddenly cut short though and their lives diverge as they grow older. A decade later, fate intervenes again and throws them back together in France. Reconciling the children they were, with the adults they are now is difficult for Jessica. They can't deny their connection (both emotionally and physically), but Callen's life choices embody everything Jessica has sworn to never accept or tolerate. It doesn't help that of course Jessica is a virgin, while Callen is essentially an alcoholic and an absolute manwhore, doing anything and anyone regardless of the consequences. Callen's self destructive behavior and secrets hang heavy between them, and create a huge push and pull between the people they are and who they want to be. Will these two let their fears and personal demons stop them from finding their happily ever after?

I really loved that Mia Sheridan pointed out that change comes from within, and that no matter how supportive your friends and family are, nothing will truly change unless you want it to. I found that the book came across a bit too religious/preachy at times (especially with the addition of the Joan of Arc story line), but I still appreciated the underlying message the author was trying to convey. I do wish we would have seen more of Jessica and Callen's childhood though, since it was the foundation of the entire story. Overall, More Than Words was an emotional and entertaining read!

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*