More Than Words: A Love Story

"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 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!

MTW is another shining example of the understated beauty of Mia Sheridan's love stories. I feel like she's some kind of spirit animal for me in the world of fiction because I simply "get" her writing and stories on such an elemental level. Not all of her stories are as big or encompassing as others, but ALL are so mesmerizing, unique and evocative that no other romance author writes quite like she does. In particular, I feel special and personal parts of her in some of what I consider to be her smaller stories, and this is one of them.The author's heroes are notably sensitive, painfully flawed, and yet so perfect. Such is the case for musical savant Callen plagued by an abusive childhood with horrific memories that cause self-esteem issues. The catharsis of his journey away from and back to JESSIE is so emotional and unpredictable. I love the way this author always takes us on what may seem to be a meandering journey of loss and love. Yet, always by end, she weaves all the pieces so artfully, beautifully, and intricately together that we don't even see the clarity of the path and its resolution coming. I loved this book conceptually in the same way that I loved MIDNIGHT LILY. The lost boy in Callen and the strength and steadfastness of determined Jessie. Two people who are fated to be together as a whole, even when it's not easy and the thorny path seems impossible."Sometimes the beginning of love is just a matter of proximity.""Live fiercely and without regret.""I'm here to save you.""I'd asked him to help me, begged him to save me, and he'd sent me Jessie ... like a messenger bearing miracles. My gift. My fate. My love."The opening chapters of this book when the H and h first meet and form a special bond in childhood is one of the most riveting, intimate openers I've read of hers or any other author of her stature. The separation of the H and h after childhood until they meet again, and then also the tie-in of an historical manuscript translation that takes up a bit of the book are both important to the momentum of the story. The manuscript has immense impact on Jessie, her self-revelations, and ultimately her relationship with Callen.Mia Sheridan doesn't rely on flowery phrases and subterfuge to get her story across. More than words, she evokes deep meaning in her characters and their psyches and does it with a lyrical ease of simple truths about the human condition. Jessie and Callen will draw you in as children, whet your romantic appetite with their reunion in adulthood, beguile you with the romantic setting of Paris, break your heart with their human foibles, but ultimately bring you the honesty and peace of true love.

I only could have read 35 pages..

Totally engrossing, who would have, thought that French history thrown into the mix of translation and music writing would make such a great story. Two people with a history of broken family, Jessica with a cheating father and Callen with an abusive father, who meet unexpectedly as children to them meeting again as adults. I loved the Joan of Arc pieces thrown in with Jessica's translation.

War ein Geschenk. Kam gut an

As a child, Jessie stumbled upon a hurt boy hiding in boxcar. She was playing make believe, imagining herself as a princess coming to his rescue. She didn’t know it then, but that thought would ring true years later.Jessie was sweet, smart, and determined. I loved how despite her desire to help, she comes to understand she can’t help someone who won’t help themselves. I loved how we got to see her love of history through her translation of Adelaide’s story, a girl who had travelled with Joan of Arc. I really enjoyed those letters alongside Jessie since I love medieval history myself.Callen, I was wary of. I knew going into this book, he’d be a player, but the first time we meet him he’s just a kid hiding in a boxcar. He’s a damaged soul, but he refuses to let it show. And when we learn his secret, why he is the way he is, my heart broke for him. No kid deserves to go through what he did. And no man, no person deserves to live the way he compelled to. I’m glad he was able to overcome his past and see his self worth. The fact that he was able to see it on his own and not because of anyone else made it so much more meaningful.I never went into this book expecting a powerful message. But it’s there and it’s beautiful: You cannot make someone change. Only they can do that themselves. All you can do is inspire them.Also another thing, I liked how though they do mention and talk about God and beliefs and miracles, the book didn’t delve into religion. It’s a little thing, but it wasn’t alienating for someone who isn’t Christian and for that I’m so grateful. Top this brilliant love story off with Paris and roses, how can I not love it? I can’t wait to read more from Mia Sheridan. I heard Archer’s Voice is a fan favourite so I going to check that out.

Ler os livros de autoria de Mia Sheridan é encantador. Os sentimentos humanos tão perfeitamente descritos através dos seus personagens nos traz tanta emoção! Achei a narrativa um pouco lenta, mas o final compensa toda a espera. Superação, redenção, amor e esperança são os sentimentos sempre presentes nos livros desse talentosa escritora.