JESSICA REVIEWS: ARCHER'S VOICE by MIA SHERIDAN

Series: A Sign of Love Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 1/25/14
Format: ARC
Pages: 337
Source: Author
Rating: 5 Stars

When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.

Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. The first three books in the series need not be read to enjoy this book. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

 

 

The most beautiful kind of fate.

Only you, only ever you.

It took me a bit to re-scramble my brain and duct tape my heart back together after reading this book. I had read Ms. Sheridan’s other books, and loved them. However, this is the first one where I had a million things to say and no way of saying it. Ever have a gagillion ideas swarm in your head, get in front of your computer, and then just stall because you don’t know how to word something? Yeah that was me. I felt a little like Bree when she first met Archer. Tongue tied and out of sorts and lots of word vomit rambling.

  Before I came out here, I asked about you in town.
  Why?
  After the first time we met…something drew me to you. I wanted to know you.



 I don’t write out play by play reviews. What would be the point of reading the book then, right? But for the first time, I really wanted to tell you everything about this story. I want to tell you just how beautiful Bree and Archer’s relationship was. How such a beautifully lost girl, came into a town where there lived a beautifully lost boy. How a simple friendship blossomed into so much more. How taking that extra step in befriending someone can make a whole world of a difference. How inner beauty shines brighter than even outer beauty. “Everyone needs a friend.”

I laughed slightly to myself—feeling drunk from half a glass of Merlot. Drunk on him, on this night, on fate, on bravery, on life.

This story had none of the elements that I’m used to reading. Not a tattooed, man whoring, bad mouth, alpha male. No bad ass biker boy either. No, this book had the complete opposite of those descriptions. This is the story of a man, Archer that lived in seclusion. He cut himself off from the real world both physically and mentally. No one really tried or went out of their way to speak or acknowledge him either. So much so that when Bree arrived into the tiny town of Pelion, Maine, she was the first person who had ever talked him in years. Could you imagine not speaking or interacting with anyone in YEARS? I can barely go without my social networking for seven minutes much less seven years!

  “They don’t know who you are, Archer. They have no idea. And they don’t deserve to know. Don’t let their judgment hurt you.”

Archer was such a beautiful, broken boy. He lived his life in his own little bubble, in his own innocence, in his own head. He was smart and sweet and funny but no one knew any of these characteristics of him. He hid away never caring what went on beyond his gated property. And the townspeople did the same. His life went on this way year after year after year. It didn’t bother him because he had acclimated at not having anyone around. But his life in seclusion ended the moment Bree stepped through his gate and into his lonely life.

  There is nothing to find out. What I know, is that you walked through my gate that day and I lost my heart. But not because it could have been any girl—because it was you. I lost my heart to you. And, Bree, in case you’re wondering, I don’t ever want it back.

There was a pull there between Bree and Archer from the very beginning. A sort of pull that was scary and electrifying and thrilling but also very…just right. Like meeting this person was something special. Like what we dream and what is reality intertwined.


  “What are your dreams, Archer?”
  I didn’t know enough to dream you, Bree, but somehow you came true anyway. How did that happen? Who read my mind and knew exactly what I wanted, even when I didn’t?
  “I feel the same way. You’re my dream too, Archer. Just as you are.”
The journey that Bree and Archer go on isn’t an easy one. There are many obstacles that both have to overcome. This is a journey of self-discovery, of finding one self and dealing with insecurities and even disabilities. It’s a good thing Archer was a quick learner. He pretty much mastered any task thrown at him.

  I know you like my hands in your hair. Show me other ways you like to be touched. Teach me what you like.

  As his hands made the words slowly, my breath hitched and more moisture flowed between my legs. As erotic as his question was, I felt slightly unsure too. No one had ever asked me anything like that—and I didn’t know exactly what to do, where to begin. I swallowed heavily.

 

  I love you so much it hurts.
  It doesn’t need to hurt.
  It does though. It does because I’m afraid that you’ll leave and that I’ll go back to being alone again. Only it will be a hundred times worse because I’ll know what I’m missing. I can’t…I want to be able to love you more than I fear losing you, and I don’t know how. Teach me, Bree. Please teach me. Don’t let me destroy this.
  Loving another person always means opening yourself up for hurt. I don’t want to lose more than I already have either, but isn’t it worth it? Isn’t it worth giving it a chance?



I could keep on going and going and quote you half a book. You should see how much I highlighted my Kindle. I never wanted this book to end. I could read chapter after chapter after chapter of Bree and Archer’s relationship. See more of what happens in their journey of discovery in each other. They are a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL couple. I am so damn happy that it wasn’t a story of insta love/lust, or that the main characters were so tainted. For once, I wanted something sweet, where the relationship blooms from an unexpected friendship. (Don’t get me wrong, I love the sexual tension just as much as the next girl but for once I didn’t want the cookie cutter NA genre writing) I HIGHLY recommend this book. Go to where it is being sold, one-click it, get some coffee or wine, sit and enjoy this fantastic story. You will definitely FEEL this book. (I warn you when you get to the first sentence of chapter 35, don’t forget to breathe, count to 10, and then keep reading. I wish someone had warned me because I was THIS close to chucking my Kindle. I did, however, scream like a banshee. My poor neighbors)

  I’m here for you. I’m here because of you. I’m here because you saw me, not just with your eyes, but with your heart. I’m here because you wanted to know what I had to say and because you were right…everyone does need friends. I’m here because of you, and I’ll always be here because of you.

P.S. I wonder what ever happened to Travis. He wasn’t a bad man just bad circumstances do to his wretched mother’s involvement. Would he think of ever trying something with Natalie, Bree’s best friend?


I leave you with a few extra quotes that I loved too much to not include them here:

  “Hey. You okay?”
  “Yeah.”
  “You’re a reader, huh? Harry Potter…hmm. This is a good one. Do you know why I like this one so much? Because it’s about an underdog who no one at all believed in—this funny looking kid in glasses who lived under his aunt and uncle’s stairs. But guess what? He ends up doing some pretty cool stuff despite everything he has going against him. There’s nothing better than watching someone no on expects to win, come out ahead, don’t you think?”

 

 

  "Can I ask you a question?"
  "Anything."
  "Did you…want me to kiss you yesterday? Did you want me to touch you?
  "Yes. "
  "I wanted to kiss you, to touch you. I just didn’t know…if you wanted that too—"
  “Do you feel that? This is how you affect me. My heart is pounding, because I want you to kiss me so badly that I can barely breathe.”

  He invited me to his home for Christmas dinner and his little girl learned a few signs before I got there, and I taught her a few more. She asked me the sign for love and I spelled out your name.
  “So now she’s going to go around saying, ‘I Bree you’?”
  "Yeah. I stand by my logic though. I think love is a concept, and each person has an individual word for what sums it up for them. My word for love is Bree."

  

 

  And her love slips quietly around me, holding me, anchoring me, reminding me that the loudest words are the ones we live.

 

Sign of Love Series

 

       

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Purchase Links

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About the author

I’m Mia Sheridan and this is my blog! I’m an avid reader, and now writer! of romance and erotic novels. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio with my husband who is a police officer and my biggest fan (not necessarily in that order). We have four children here on earth and one in heaven. When I’m not sitting on my couch with my head buried in my Kindle, I can be found writing or doing anything creative from building a patio, to sewing pillows. The wild hairs I get know no bounds. Leo is my debut novel, but my head is swimming with more…

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