Plot Summary
Broken Prince, Lonely Princess
Jessica, a lonely, imaginative girl escaping her fractured home, stumbles upon Callen, a battered, sullen boy hiding in an abandoned boxcar. Both are running from pain—Jessica from her parents' constant fighting, Callen from his father's fists and cruel words. Their friendship is forged in the twilight, reading stories and sharing dreams. Jessica's hope and kindness offer Callen a rare sense of safety, while his presence gives her the adventure and connection she craves. Together, they create a world of make-believe, where a princess can save a broken prince, and for a while, both believe in the possibility of rescue.
Boxcar Promises and Goodbyes
As their friendship deepens, Jessica introduces Callen to music, unknowingly unlocking his hidden genius. But Callen's home life grows unbearable, and one day, he vanishes without a word, leaving Jessica heartbroken and confused. She returns to the boxcar for months, clinging to hope, but only finds a scrap of music as a silent farewell. The pain of abandonment shapes both their lives—Jessica's belief in fairy tales is tested, and Callen's sense of worthlessness is cemented. Their brief, magical connection becomes a bittersweet memory, a wound and a touchstone for the years to come.
Parisian Strangers, Familiar Hearts
Ten years later, Jessica is in Paris, struggling to find her place, while Callen is a famous but troubled composer, numbing his pain with alcohol and fleeting affairs. Fate brings them together in a bar, neither recognizing the other at first. A charged, impulsive kiss stirs something deep, but Callen, lost in his own darkness, leaves with another woman. Jessica is left reeling, her childhood prince now a stranger, and the ache of unfinished business between them grows sharper.
Haunted by the Past
Callen's fame has not healed his scars. He is celebrated for his music but haunted by self-doubt and the echo of his father's abuse. Writer's block and self-destructive habits threaten his career. Jessica, meanwhile, lands a dream job translating newly discovered medieval French documents, hoping to find meaning and stability. Both are adrift, their childhood pain shaping their adult choices, unable to move forward or let go of the past.
Music, Memory, and Masks
Jessica's work immerses her in the story of a girl who followed Joan of Arc, mirroring her own longing for courage and belonging. Callen, desperate for inspiration, travels to the Loire Valley, where Jessica is working. Their paths cross again, and this time, recognition dawns. The shock of reunion is electric, but so are the barriers—Callen's cynicism, Jessica's fear of repeating her mother's mistakes, and the weight of all that's unsaid between them.
Fate's Reunion in the Loire
Thrown together by circumstance, Jessica and Callen agree to a fragile friendship. Their banter is laced with longing and regret, each wary of being hurt again. A series of mishaps—a broken statue, a runaway kite—force them into moments of laughter and vulnerability. The Loire's beauty and the echoes of history around them soften their defenses. They begin to remember the joy they once found in each other, and the possibility of healing flickers to life.
Reluctant Friendship Rekindled
A day spent exploring, flying kites, and picnicking among ruins rekindles their connection. Callen confesses the pain of his childhood, and Jessica shares her own family scars. They strike a bargain: two weeks together, no promises, no regrets. It's a fragile arrangement, born of desire and fear, but it allows them to lower their guards. The past is never far away, but for a moment, they find comfort in each other's company, daring to hope for more.
Kites, Castles, and Confessions
As they spend more time together, their emotional and physical intimacy deepens. Jessica's innocence and honesty draw out Callen's tenderness, while his passion and vulnerability awaken her own desires. They share secrets, laughter, and longing, but the specter of impermanence looms. Jessica fears becoming just another woman in Callen's life, while he is terrified of not being enough. Their love is real, but so are their doubts.
The Bargain of Two Weeks
Their two-week truce becomes a whirlwind of stolen moments—shared beds, whispered confessions, and the slow, sweet discovery of each other's bodies and hearts. Jessica's work on the medieval letters parallels her own journey, as she translates the story of a girl who risks everything for love and faith. Callen, inspired by Jessica's belief in him, begins to write music again, the melodies returning as his heart opens. But both know their time is running out, and the fear of goodbye shadows every joy.
Secrets, Scars, and Surrender
The fragile peace is shattered when Callen's past catches up with him. An ex-lover's betrayal and a public humiliation expose his deepest secret: he is illiterate, a shame he has hidden all his life. Jessica, inadvertently responsible for the revelation, is devastated. Callen lashes out, pushing her away, convinced he is unworthy of love. Both are left raw and broken, their old wounds reopened, and the future they dared to imagine seems lost.
Letters from the Past
Jessica finds solace in the medieval letters she translates, the story of Adélaïde and Olivier—a love tested by war, loss, and faith. Their courage and resilience inspire her to face her own pain. Meanwhile, Callen spirals, numbing himself with old habits, haunted by the belief that he is a disgrace. Only when he confronts the ruins of his childhood home does he begin to understand that he must save himself, that love and worthiness are choices he must make.
Love in Ruins
Callen's journey through grief and rage leads him to a moment of clarity: he has been loved, and he can choose to accept it. He begins to learn to read, reaching out to Jessica with music and, finally, a letter in his own hand. Jessica, too, finds the courage to forgive and to hope. Their reunion is tender and hard-won, marked by humility, honesty, and the promise of a new beginning.
Rain, Roses, and Revelations
In a rain-soaked Paris street, Callen and Jessica find each other again. He brings her a letter, a song, and the news that he has moved to France, ready to build a life with her and their unborn child. The past is not erased, but it is transformed by love, forgiveness, and the willingness to fight for happiness. Together, they choose a future rooted in faith, music, and the fierce, imperfect love that has always bound them.
Betrayal and Breaking Points
A public betrayal exposes Callen's illiteracy, and Jessica's accidental role in the revelation devastates them both. Callen, feeling exposed and unworthy, lashes out, seeking solace in old patterns. Jessica, heartbroken, confronts the reality of loving a man who cannot yet love himself. Their separation is agonizing, but necessary—a crucible in which both must decide who they want to be.
The Weight of Words
Callen returns to his childhood home, facing the ghosts of his father's abuse and his own self-loathing. In a moment of rage and grief, he finally allows himself to mourn, to rage, and to let go. The memory of Jessica's kindness and the realization that he has been loved all along become his turning point. He chooses to fight for himself, to learn, to change, and to be worthy of love.
Lost and Found in Paris
Jessica, too, finds healing through story in her work and in the stories of the past. When Callen reaches out with music and a letter, she is ready to forgive, to hope, and to build a life together. Their reunion is marked by humility, joy, and the promise of a family. The lessons of the past—courage, faith, and the power of love—guide them as they step into the future.
Letters, Music, and Forgiveness
Callen and Jessica, now parents, return to the Loire Valley, honoring the love stories that came before them and the one they have fought to claim. Callen's music, once born of pain, now sings with hope and gratitude. Jessica's faith, once tested by loss, is renewed by love. Together, they choose to live fiercely and without regret, writing their own story—one of forgiveness, courage, and the enduring power of more than words.
Characters
Jessica Creswell
Jessica is a sensitive, imaginative woman shaped by a childhood of emotional neglect and betrayal. Her parents' toxic marriage leaves her yearning for escape and fairy-tale love, but also wary of repeating her mother's mistakes. As a girl, she finds solace in stories and in her friendship with Callen, whose pain she instinctively tries to heal. As an adult, Jessica is intelligent, driven, and compassionate, pursuing a career in translation and immersing herself in the voices of the past. Her journey is one of learning to balance hope with realism, to forgive herself and others, and to claim the love she deserves. Her relationship with Callen is both a source of joy and pain, forcing her to confront her deepest fears and to choose faith over fear.
Callen Hayes
Callen is a man marked by trauma—a childhood of abuse, neglect, and the crushing shame of illiteracy. His genius for music is both a gift and a curse, offering him escape and success but never silencing the voice of his father's contempt. Callen's adult life is a study in contradiction: celebrated and desired, yet deeply lonely and self-destructive. His reunion with Jessica reawakens his capacity for hope, but also his terror of vulnerability. Callen's arc is one of painful self-confrontation, as he learns that love cannot save him unless he chooses to save himself. His journey toward healing is slow, marked by setbacks and moments of grace, and ultimately fulfilled by his willingness to be seen, to change, and to love fiercely.
Adélaïde (Medieval diarist)
Adélaïde, the young woman whose writings Jessica translates, serves as a historical parallel and spiritual guide. Disguised as a boy, she follows Joan of Arc into war, chronicling not only battles but the inner struggles of faith, love, and identity. Her friendship with Joan and her forbidden love for Captain Durand echo Jessica's own journey—risking everything for love, questioning her place in the world, and ultimately choosing to live fiercely and without regret. Adélaïde's voice bridges centuries, offering Jessica (and the reader) lessons in resilience, hope, and the enduring power of words.
Joan of Arc (Jehanne)
Though seen only through Adélaïde's eyes, Joan is a figure of inspiration and mystery. Her unwavering faith, courage in the face of death, and ability to inspire others become a touchstone for Jessica's own struggles. Joan's story—her triumphs, doubts, and martyrdom—serves as a reminder that bravery is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act despite it.
Captain Olivier Durand
Olivier is the object of Adélaïde's forbidden love, a soldier hardened by war but softened by affection. His relationship with Adélaïde is marked by tenderness, humor, and the shared trauma of battle. Their love story, fraught with danger and uncertainty, mirrors the risks Jessica and Callen must take to claim their own happiness.
Nick
Nick is Callen's oldest and truest friend, a fellow survivor of hardship who offers unwavering support and gentle challenge. He sees through Callen's defenses, calls him out on his self-destructive behavior, and quietly helps him navigate the world. Nick's presence is a reminder that chosen family can be as vital as blood, and that healing often requires the help of others.
Frankie
Frankie is Jessica's best friend in Paris, offering warmth, humor, and practical support. She encourages Jessica to take risks, celebrates her successes, and provides a safe haven in times of crisis. Frankie's loyalty and lightness help balance the story's heavier themes, reminding Jessica (and the reader) that joy and friendship are essential to survival.
Larry
Larry is Callen's agent, a man whose professional and personal boundaries are blurred by ambition and resentment. His eventual betrayal—exposing Callen's illiteracy for revenge—serves as a catalyst for the story's darkest moments. Larry represents the dangers of misplaced trust and the corrosive power of secrets.
Annette
Annette, Larry's wife and Callen's former lover, is a figure of temptation and self-sabotage. Her presence in Callen's life is a reminder of his worst impulses and the emptiness of his old coping mechanisms. Annette's role in the story is to force Callen to confront the consequences of his choices and the need to break free from destructive patterns.
Ben
Ben is Jessica's coworker and fellow translator, a kind and intelligent man who develops feelings for her. His quiet support and eventual acceptance of friendship provide Jessica with a sense of belonging and validation outside her relationship with Callen. Ben's presence underscores the importance of kindness, honesty, and the courage to let go.
Plot Devices
Dual Timelines and Mirrored Stories
The novel weaves together Jessica and Callen's contemporary love story with the medieval tale of Adélaïde and Joan of Arc. The letters Jessica translates serve as both plot device and thematic mirror, allowing the characters (and readers) to draw lessons from history. The struggles, doubts, and triumphs of the past inform the present, offering hope, perspective, and a sense of continuity. This structure deepens the emotional resonance and underscores the universality of love, loss, and courage.
Symbolism of Music and Words
Music is both Callen's gift and his refuge, a language he can master when words fail him. His journey from shame to self-acceptance is marked by his ability to create beauty from pain, and by his eventual willingness to learn to read and write. Letters—both historical and personal—become acts of vulnerability, connection, and healing. The title, "More Than Words," encapsulates the idea that love, faith, and meaning are found not just in what is said, but in what is felt, created, and lived.
Foreshadowing and Fate
From the feather that leads Callen to the boxcar, to the repeated phrase "live fiercely and without regret," the story is laced with signs and symbols that suggest a guiding force at work. The characters' belief (or disbelief) in fate, God, and second chances shapes their choices and their willingness to risk love. The narrative structure, with its echoes and parallels, reinforces the sense that some connections are meant to be, if only we are brave enough to claim them.
Public Exposure and Private Shame
The climactic public exposure of Callen's illiteracy forces both him and Jessica to confront their deepest fears and insecurities. The fallout tests their love, their self-worth, and their capacity for forgiveness. This plot device serves as both crucible and catalyst, burning away illusions and compelling the characters to choose honesty, vulnerability, and growth.
Healing Through Story
Jessica's work as a translator is more than a job—it is a metaphor for the work of love: listening, interpreting, bridging gaps, and honoring the truth of another's experience. The act of translating Adélaïde's letters becomes a journey of self-discovery, empathy, and hope, offering both Jessica and Callen a roadmap for healing and connection.
Analysis
Mia Sheridan's More Than Words is a modern fairy tale that explores the enduring wounds of childhood trauma, the redemptive power of love, and the courage required to claim happiness. Through the intertwined stories of Jessica and Callen, and the historical echoes of Adélaïde and Joan of Arc, the novel examines how the past shapes the present, and how healing is possible only when we confront our deepest fears. The book's central message is that love is more than words—it is action, sacrifice, and the willingness to be seen in all our imperfection. Sheridan challenges the myth of the "rescuer," showing that true salvation comes from within, but that we are often guided, inspired, and sustained by the love of others. The narrative's use of music, letters, and translation as metaphors for connection and self-expression underscores the idea that art and story are vital tools for making sense of pain and forging meaning. Ultimately, More Than Words is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the necessity of forgiveness, and the belief that, with faith and courage, we can write our own endings—fiercely, and without regret.
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