Leo

 

“All the world’s a circus. Sometimes you choose your act and sometimes it’s assigned to you.”

We have another winner by Mia Sheridan guys. Leo is the third book by Mia Sheridan that I’ve read, and true to form I laughed, I cried, I sighed, and I fell in love with her writing and storytelling ability all over again.

Second chance love stories are my favorite, because I can’t help but love the idea that you get more than one shot with love. Second chance stories with a surprising twist are even better. Evie and Leo met while in the foster care system, and formed a bond of friendship that slowly grew into something more. Before they can explore it further, Leo is adopted and whisked across the country. Despite promising to write Evie every week, and come for her when they turn 18, she never hears from him again. Brokenhearted, she moves on with her life, but never forgets her first and only love. Out of nowhere though, a man shows up claiming that Leo sent him shortly before dying, and Evie’s life is thrown into chaos of mixed emotions.

I really admire Evie, because she beat the odds. The story starts eight years Leo leaves (though we do get several flashbacks), and Evie has managed to survive the foster care system. She’s managed to get a job, she has friends, and honestly she’s content with her life. Then Jake shows up and throws her life into a tailspin. He’s attractive, charming, and she is draw to him in ways she can’t explain. However, she can tell he’s hiding to something, and refuses to elaborate exactly on what his relationship with Leo was.

I knew something was off from the minute we met Jake, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I won’t give anything away, but wow the plot twist threw me for a major loop, while at the same time shattering my heart (in typical Mia Sheridan fashion). There chemistry was explosive, and there was no doubt they belonged together. Both Evie and the reader though both feel that Leo is her true love, and nothing will ever compare to him. Little do they know what fate has in store.

The writing, per usual, was beautiful. I was immediately drawn in, and didn’t stop reading until I’d reached the end. The characters were complex and emotionally charged, which makes them instantly likeable. They both have had a rough life, but survived the odds. She breathes life into her characters through subtle movements (clenched jaw, hand running through the hair, intake of breathe, glimmer in the eyes) that I’ve never seen in any other book. She does it so artfully that I have a crystal clear image of each character in my head, which makes connecting with the story even easier. I pretty much couldn’t breathe through the last 100 pages of the book. Mia Sheridan has a way of bringing the reader to the climax of the story and creating such intense situations that nothing is truly resolved until the last page. The book keeps it’s grip on you until the very last word, which shows true writing prowess. I recommend her books, especially this one, to anyone 18 years or old (there are themes of sex, drugs, and abuse). Leo is another winner from Mia Sheridan, and I can’t wait to read another book by her!

**This is a New Adult story, and is not suitable for readers under the age of 18**