Review: A Sweet Ride
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 19, 2012
I adored book one in The Paradise Diaries, Dante's Girl, when I read it over the summer. Dante and Reese were adorable and I fell in love with both of them, as well as their friend, Mia. When I learned that not only there was another book, but that it was Mia's, I was thrilled.Mia's Heart was a fun, thoughtful, yet light story. When the story begins, Mia is an unhappy girl. I loved her fun, rebellious personality in Dante's Girl, but never realized how miserable she was. As the daughter of a government official, she is expected to behave in a gracious, respectful manner. But that's just not Mia. When Mia is hurt in a freak accident, she loses her memory. Her parents use this as an opportunity to "reform" her, to convince her she's the docile, well-behaved daughter they wish she was. Her friends rally around her, helping her navigate a life she doesn't remember.And...there are two boys, Gavin and Quinn. They're both characters we met in Dante's Girl, both really great guys. Gavin is Mia's best friend, but she doesn't remember that. She only sees him as this gorgeous guy who is sweet, mischievous, and can relate to her crazy stressful life. Quinn is Reese's friend, a real-life American cowboy. Charming, jaw-droppingly handsome, and clearly into her, Mia can't help but fall for Quinn.Mia is a spirited girls who grabs onto life, and the boys, with both hands. But she also experience character growth that I was afraid wouldn't happen, but am happy it did because it made her journey that much stronger. I will say that while I do enjoy the tone of the stories, Mia's "voice" felt, to me, almost exactly like Reese's in Dante's Girl. I enjoy it, they're funny girls, but I almost felt as if Mia and Reese were the same character and I would have liked more distinction, or uniqueness, between the two girls. Still, I really liked the story.A gorgeous Mediterranean island. Two guys. One girl with a past of lost memories, Mia's Heart is a sweet ride.