Most of All You by Mia Sheridan @MSheridanAuthor

After reading all of this author's works, I know to brace myself for an overwhelmingly touching journey and Most of All You was no exception. Mia Sheridan is a gifted writer who never fails to hold me hostage within the confines of the worlds she created. Ruling my emotions while sending me into turmoil, Sheridan once again flayed my heart and shattered me to pieces. Then ever so slowly, she led me from utter despair and into the light as her words became gentle caresses, a soothing balm, which healed me. From the onset, I found myself in tears and aching for these characters. So lost within the story, I felt all of their sorrows and joys deep down to my soul. Weeks later, Gabriel and Ellie's story continues to haunt me. Be warned - this is not a lighthearted read (I was a blubbering mess from prologue through to this couples' happily ever after). Nonetheless, it was so worth every tear shed. An unforgettable slow-burning romance of hope, of overcoming the past, finding beauty in the rubble, of undeniable love and self-discovery. Broken and severely damaged, Gabriel and Ellie suffered through heinous childhood ordeals, which shaped their future in very different ways. Ellie (or Crystal, her stage name) chose what some may consider an unrighteous path while Gabriel led a quiet, reserved life. Despite their differences, both have major trust issues, and with good reason. Their history and the traumas each survived utterly destroyed me. Nonetheless, I relished in their struggle to overcome all obstacles, taking a leap of faith and trust in the healing power of love. Eloise ‘Ellie’ Cates was one tough cookie. Harden, pessimistic, self-loathing and lacking self-esteem, she was unfortunately surrounded by horrible people who consistently used and abused her. At first glance, she came off seemingly detached and even cruel at times to my sweet Gabe. Although I hurt for all the injustices she experienced, I felt as if her character was holding back and hiding behind a stone-cold façade. However, through her relationship with Gabriel, a different side of Ellie came into light.  As she slowly unraveled, Ellie's beautiful soul shined, and my admiration for her grew tremendously.   Her journey from striving to overcome dire circumstances to discovering true self-worth had my heart bursting. With Gabriel's devotion and guidance, Ellie finally found the courage to turn her life around, rise from the ashes, open up her heart and learn to trust. From a hopeless woman who perceived herself as unworthy of affection, she brilliantly transformed into a compassionate and loving heroine.   In Gabriel Dalton, Sheridan created my perfect hero, and I immediately fell head over heels in love with him. Gentle, kind, passionate and patient to a fault, Gabe was the epitome of the "strong and silent" type. Riddled with trust and intimacy issues resulting from an unimaginable childhood ordeal, he sought help from a stripper, Crystal (Ellie), hoping to overcome his fears. For a child shrouded in so much brutality and ugliness, Gabriel was a master creator of beauty ~ in both his trade as a sculptor and his optimistic outlook on life. Despite his soft-spoken demeanor, Gabe is one of Sheridan's strongest heroes. I loved how he recognized and tended to all of Ellie's needs above and beyond his own. His determination to heal both himself as well as Ellie, while never giving up on her during the most difficult of times, had me soaring. I championed his efforts to not only conquer his anxieties but to finally break through her walls. Noble and sincere, his character stole my heart and will stay with me for a very, very long time. I enjoyed every moment of this couple's journey to love and savored their slow-burning passion from shaky beginnings through to the powerful connection they shared. As usual, this story was exceptionally written. Filled with memorable characters, a gripping plot and elements of symbolism that Sheridan masterfully peppered into the storyline ~ Most of All You was another great, tearfully emotional read that I highly recommend. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this publication.