Review: Leo by Mia Sheridan

Evie and Leo met in foster care as children and formed a bond of friendship. As they grew, their bond turned to love, and they vowed to make a life together when they turned 18 and were no longer a part of the system.

When Leo unexpectedly gets adopted as a teen and he moves to another city, he promises Evie that he will contact her as soon as he gets there and come back for her in a few short years. She never hears from him again.

Now eight years later, in spite of the odds, Evie has made a life for herself. She has a job. She has friends. She's content. Then a man shows up out of the blue, claiming that her long lost love, Leo, sent him to check up on her. The attraction between them is undeniable. But, should she trust this sexy stranger? Or is he keeping a secret about what his connection to Leo is really all about and why Leo disappeared all those years ago?

New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18

Kindle Edition, 193 pages

Published April 17th 2013 (first published March 12th 2013)

original title: Leo

edition language: English

series:Sign of Love #1

 

My Review:

This book has the right mix of heartbreak, emotion, steam, and romance that you've been looking for. It is a modern day Cinderella story of sorts. A story of kids from the wrong side of the tracks, make good in their life. So it grabbed my interest in the first three chapters and didn't let go. The most interesting characters come from intense past experiences, just like diamonds come from extreme heat and pressure. This book provided that. Interesting characters that came from terrible past situations. Their thoughts and feelings are what really made this book.

Leo is well written and the inner dialogue hooks you with its intelligence and sensitivity. I was really connected to these characters and wanted to see them evolve. Overall, I found the book really enjoyable and it captivated my interest. There are some really great quotes from this book that I wish I could put into this review, but geez, I don't want to spoil it for you! They are so much better in the context of the story, so I'll let you experience them yourself. All I have to say is, EPILOGUE! You will LOVE it.

This book is definitely for you if you've been missing yourself some Christian Grey. Jake is very possessive, intense, and outright bossy. However, Evie is never threatened by it and rarely counters it. She finds it reassuring, comforting, and embraces it. Leo will not be the first or the last time you read of orphans, rich controlling guys, good girl virgins, or lies told out of insecurity. Don't go into this book expecting a completely new scenario that you've never read about. What will stick with you from this story is its HEART. The author's way of conveying the thought that your perfect match complements your own traits, faults, and balances you.

Leo will give you some crazy conflict and drama. Misunderstandings, insta-love, insta-sex, with a little bit of awkward funny mixed in. When the couple is in the middle of a steamy sex romp, the main character blurts out in her nervousness, "I'm a virgin!" **spits out drink** It was super awkward and meant to be funny, as the main character ridicules herself in her own thoughts.

When you are not that far into the story, you will think that you've totally discovered the plot twist. But keep reading. There are more turns in the story, that when revealed, will surprise you.

The main character Evie is pretty sweet and has some good friends that she can lean on. Her two best friends are good hearted people who are fiercely loyal to her. I really loved how the main character's friends didn't just disappear as the romance developed. I loved that they stayed interwoven into the storyline the entire book.

There were many times in this book when a "misunderstanding" would come up between the couple and I would want to yell at Evie, "Are you kidding me?? Don't let him off the hook so easily!!" But that sums up who Evie is. A very forgiving and kind person that is potentially vulnerable. This is what Jake admires and is in awe of. He is tougher and holds a grudge, but they compliment each other perfectly.  I also loved how very honest and frank she is in her inner dialogue and I loved it because it helped me relate to her.

Mia Sheridan melds beautiful phrasing and touching stories of youth and innocence into this book. There is a lot of self analyzation, and I loved it. It is missing from so many books that I read and it drives me nuts!! So this book had me at hello with that stand out trait. The characters had grown and improved by the end of the book. Also this book deals with a sexual abuse topic, and the author really had her ducks in a row in dealing with this subject matter. She didn't just drop the bomb and walk away. She spent the time to explain the reality of the after effects of something like that. It was responsible of her as an author and I appreciated it as a reader.

I have to say that I moved right onto the next book, Leo's Chance, which is the same story told through his POV. I know this is a review for Leo, but hold on if anything that you read doesn't set right with you. It is all explained and set straight in Leo's Chance. For instance, to me Jake was a little over the top with his putting Evie on a pedestal, and his crazy possessiveness, and I had trouble understanding that behavior. The author really explains the whole background and psychology of it and it totally made sense.  So give Jake a little leeway in this book. Nonetheless this book definitely engaged me and made me fall in love with these characters. This book is a stand alone, but good luck resisting wanting to hear his POV!

purchase Leo by Mia Sheridan through AMAZON