Book Review — Grayson’s Vow by Mia Sheridan

“God, I wanted to believe in heroes again.”

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• Buy GRAYSON’S VOW (Paperback)

Mia Sheridan is, without a doubt, one of the most talented authors I’ve ever read. Her stories are unique, her writing is beautiful, and I’ve loved every single book she’s written. Grayson’s Vow was no exception. It told an unconventional but passionate love story that grew out of the most unlikely circumstance. What began as a marriage of convenience turned into a love that would last a lifetime. I was hooked from the first few pages, and now, having finished it, I can absolutely call this a new favorite recommendation!

Here’s the thing, this book actually has a bit of a different vibe than most of Mia Sheridan’s books. While her previous books are more serious in tone and often even heart-wrenchingly emotional, Grayson’s Vow was a little on the lighter side. While I absolutely adore the deeply intense romances we’re used to reading from this author, I quite enjoyed the light-hearted feeling this story had. Bear in mind, it’s still a serious romance, but you’ll see what I mean when you read it… it just feels lighter, somehow, in comparison.

The story starts out focused on our heroine, Kira, who is currently homeless and out of options. Refusing to accept help from her father, she’s determined to find a way to make it on her own. This is when her path crosses with Grayson Hawthorn’s, a gorgeous, suit-wearing ex-con whose name she remembered because it was her father who had influenced the severity of his sentence. With a record like his, he was unable to get the loans necessary to help keep his family’s vineyard running. In this, she saw an opportunity….

“I have a business arrangement to offer you.”

I lifted one brow. “A business arrangement?”

She nodded… “Yes, well, in actuality, Mr. Hawthorn, I’m here to propose marriage.”

I laughed, almost spewing the sip of coffee I’d just taken all over my desk. “Excuse me?”

She saw him as a means to an end and was determined not to let her heart be involved. But he saw her as a spoiled rich princess who’d fallen far from her throne. Given the almost antagonistic sparks that flew between them from the start, theirs was planned as a marriage of convenience, and nothing more.

“I had to admit his looks had swayed me, too. He looked like every hero in every fairy tale I’d ever dreamed, come to life. And, God, I wanted to believe in heroes again.

But sometimes, I supposed, a girl has to be her own hero.”

You could just feel this air of anticipation and tension around wanting them to get to know each other more and fall in love, but understanding that they weren’t quite there yet. Luckily for them though, sometimes initial judgements aren’t the most accurate and the more time they began to spend together, the more they slowly began to feel attached to one another… Then, one kiss changed everything…

This story was told in dual POV so, despite the outward indifference they initially showed each other, the reader was privy to their real feelings so you just knew that it was only a matter of time before their relationship would progress down the path you were hoping for.

I waved my hand. “I’m sure you’re aware that women find you… appealing of some unknown reason.” I shrugged.

“Appealing?”

“Hot, panty-melting,” I elaborated.

He stopped and I did as well, turning to face him. The look on his face was filled with amusement. “This topic interests me. I’d like to stop and discuss it further.”

I have a real soft spot for damaged heroes, and Grayson’s past was really heart-breaking. Everything he’d suffered through though had shaped him into a bitter, arrogant man who trusted no one. He’d been wounded so many times that his hurt and the walls he’d built around himself had almost become a part of who he was. But luckily, he still had a good heart and even though they had quite a rocky start, being around Kira’s fiery attitude slowly, and over time, brought out a better side of him.

“I shouldn’t be delving more into Grayson’s hidden torment. It’d only make me love him more. Wasn’t that just the way with women? And I was no exception. What was sexier on a man than great abs and a heart full of hidden torment? They should bottle it and sell it by the truckloads. Or perhaps write a book: “Abs and Hidden Torment: A Man’s Guide to Bagging Babes.”

He did mess up a few times, and I definitely had moments when I wanted to shake sense into him, but it’s hard not to forgive a good grovel. And, in that respect, he certainly delivered…

I had a wife to find and some grovelling to do. I was going to grovel so hard they might need to find a new word for it.

I also have to say that while this is completely a contemporary romance, it almost feels like a fairy tale — capturing the well-loved feeling we often associate with stories like Cinderella, or Beauty and the Beast. Perhaps this can be it’s own fairy tale? The Witch and the Dragon. I rather like the sound of that!

Forget the price and princess. I always imagined the real story was between the witch and the dragon.

And finally, I loved the little bits of wisdom sprinkled throughout the book from Kira’s grandmother. They really rang true with regards to all life, and not just this story…

“Watch what people do when they think no one’s watching, love. That’s how you’ll know who they really are.”

All in all this was a really great read that showed a new side to Mia Sheridan’s writing and delivered a unique love story that I’m happy to add to my favorites list. This is a complete standalone novel (not related to any other book by this author) so if you like the sound of it, you can dive in at any time!

Rating: 4.5 stars! Standalone contemporary romance.

• Buy GRAYSON’S VOW (Kindle)
• Buy GRAYSON’S VOW (Paperback)