Becoming Calder

I read this book in 2014, but realized today that I had never reviewed it on amazon. This is a wonderful duology! Becoming Calder is the first book (Finding Eden is the second) in a New Adult contemporary romance duology by Mia Sheridan. The book alternates POVs between Eden and Calder. This book is set in a totally different setting. Calder has grown up in Acadia. It\’s a small community sealed off from society. It is run by Hector, a god-like cult leader who controls everyone in the community. The workers do everything and are forced to live without most things including running water. While Hector and his council members live at the main lodge (where they have many luxuries). The book begins in the present with Eden (18). But then we go back to her and Calder\’s youth. Eden was brought to the compound when she was under 10 as Hector\’s future bride (when she would turn 18). This was beyond creepy because she called him Father. So the idea of her having to marry him was pretty repulsive (to her as well as the reader). It was sort of interesting to start the book with Eden age 18 and then have the story go back 8 years. Truthfully both parts of the story were interesting. But I really wanted to get back to the story where she was 18 (I guess the second book is for that). The book was definitely unusual mostly because of the creepy cult leader. He had brainwashed his followers. And I really could not stand him or his council members. I loved Calder\’s best friend Xander. What a nice and funny best friend. I think I enjoyed the last part of the book the most because I am impatient and I really wanted to see how what we learned at the beginning would impact the story. I definitely want to see how this all plays out. And I think Finding Eden should be interesting.

OH MY GOSH. This was my second book by Mia Sheridan and it sure did not disappoint. Mia\’s books were on sale for 99 cents on Amazon, so I decided to one-click two of those. AND I\’M SO MAD I ONLY BOUGHT TWO. They were both brilliant and now her books are back to full price and I want them all! Calder has grown up in a place where they are all waiting for the great flood where they will be taken to Elysium. As they wait, there is no electricity, no choice, and no self-expression for those living and working in the community. The day Eden is brought to them as the one who will be their mother and marry their leader, Calder is in awe of the beautiful young girl. As years pass, everyone waits for Eden to turn 18 so that she can be married and they can be lead to Elysium, but Eden isn\’t so sure she wants to marry their leader and be their savior, especially when she feels so connected with Calder. A romance between Eden and Calder is strictly forbidden, but that doesn\’t stop them from feeling for the first time and questioning what Calder has grown up in and the only thing he has ever known. Wow, this book. As I was reading this book, the only way I can really explain my experience is when you see an accident about to happen and you can\’t look away. The whole world that Calder lives in is SO WRONG and I knew that what Calder and Eden were doing was going to get them into serious trouble, but I couldn\’t stop reading. I couldn\’t stop watching them grow to love each other and learn the truths about the world while I was anxiously waiting for everyone else to finally figure out what they were doing. But the romaine between them was so beautiful, sweet, and innocent. I LOVED Calder and how much he cared for his sister and how sweet he was to Eden. I was swooning from the moment we met him. Just to let you all know, this is a TWO PART book, so there is a sequel. Which means there was a SERIOUS cliffhanger that had me absolutely freaking out. Did I mention I didn\’t buy the sequel? Because I didn\’t know there was one and I am kicking myself for not buying it when it was on sale. The ending of this book freaked me out and I need to know what happens to Calder and Eden. I became so emotionally invested in them and I just want them to be happy and together and for life to not be so gosh darn difficult for them anymore. If you want a very unique story with an incredible romance, you have to pick up Becoming Calder. I could not put this book down and cared about these characters as if they were my real life friends. I am definitely going to read more Mia Sheridan books and never take a sale for granted ever again!

~4.5 stars~ After reading two of Mia\’s other books, I had been recommended Becoming Calder and after falling in love with Mia\’s writing and characters, I was really looking forward to this. The blurb did draw me in but when I started reading I was a bit unsure; I couldn\’t really get into it with the whole cult thing, though I was drawn to Calder straight away and began falling in love. I knew I had to keep reading though as I knew that would change, from what other people had said, and well, from Mia\’s writing in general. And I\’m so glad I carried on. —————————— \”He sifts through all the pebbles until he finds the smoothest one he can, and presents it to her as a token of his love.\” —————————— From 30% onward I was hooked, I barely put it down. I was just dying to know what happened next. I gasped, I \’aww\’ed, I even had a few tears. It kept me hanging on all the way to the end. The love between Calder and Eden is pure, immeasurable, passionate, and oh so strong no matter what is thrown at them. —————————— \”Somewhere inside a voice whispered, you survived, and now you have to live.\” —————————— I can\’t wait to read Finding Eden.

I\’ve had this book sitting on my kindle for a while now and I can\’t believe I\’m only reading it now, I just wished I had read it sooner. Right from the first page this story captivated me. The main characters Calder & Eden and this story took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions and I really did feel for these two. This is the first book and I\’m so glad I\’ve got \”Finding Eden \” sitting waiting for me to start right away because I can\’t wait to find out what happens.

Wow, just wow ! This book is one hell of a ride, I spent large parts of it with my heart in my mouth, you sensed something bad was around the corner. Mia\’s writing pulls every emotion out of you, leaving you breathless, emotional and stunned into silence. I did find the beginning a little slow but as the story develops I realised that is because we need to understand the depth of Calder and Eden\’s feelings from a very early age. This is a story of love against all the odds, a love so deep it should last a lifetime but that would be too simple. I Love that Mia\’s stories are always feature usual parts of our society but they are striving to find love and acceptance. Loved the characters of Calder, Eden and Xander there naviety, strength and courage is awe inspiring . I hated the character of Hector with a passion wishing him a slow and painful death on more one occasion. Not many books can bring me to tears but this book did more than once. After that shocking ending I\’m going to dive straight into Finding Eden, I need to know what happens next . Another amazing read from one amazing author – a must read !

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