World traveler, Carla goes to Ireland for her best friends wedding, but takes a bit of a detour when she learns that best man Eamon wants to travel in his land rover. It's a fun romance between two characters that hit it off immediately. I thought a lot of the part's with Carla's dad Biggie, who has early onset dementia, were tough, but I enjoyed my read overall.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one just made me sad. After loving the Float Plan and liking the Suite Retreat, this was such a bummer.

First off, I’m not a fan Insta love at all and this was a perfect example of why I don’t. I didn’t feel their connection at all and the romance didn’t seem real

Really loved the Ireland setting. I really want to visit!

I do really like books with found family and this one had more emotion in it which I appreciate with Dollers books but it still didn’t make up for everything else.

I also really didn’t like Carla the whole time and thought she was selfish so that didn’t help.

I will still continue to read Dollers books but hoping the next one will be better!

This book was still pretty cute but I did not like it near as much as the first 2 books. The spice level was a little higher then the first books too which isn't really my preference but may be to some!

Trish Doller’s female characters just speak to me. If you read Float Plan, you might remember Anne, whose fiance died, and she impulsively decided to sail the world. In Off the Map, readers can catch up with Anne when Carla Black flies to Ireland to be maid of honor in Anne’s wedding. This is Carla’s story, but her best friend, Anne, is always there for her.

Carla Black was raised by her beloved brother, Biggie. Biggie didn’t know how to cope when his wife left him with a five-year-old, so he packed Carla up in his jeep, and they traveled around the country, staying in national parks and forests. They traveled together for almost twenty years. Carla would have continued traveling with the person she loved best in the world, but eight years ago, Biggie developed early-onset dementia. He married, and pretty much kicked Carla out, using the family motto, “Here for a good time, not for a long time.” And, Carla never settled down, frantically traveling to escape the image of her father losing all memories of her, and, eventually, losing his life.

When Carla meets Eamon Sullivan in a pub in Ireland, she only thinks she’s meeting the best man, and she’ll travel to the wedding with him. But, Carla and Eamon just seem to know each other the first time they kiss. It doesn’t take Eamon long to reveal his secret. He’s a cartographer who has never been anyplace, even in Ireland. Carla insists they change that, and their trip to Tralee, the site of the wedding, is delayed a little as they camp in the Wicklow Mountains, and have a few adventures, including an interesting run in with a bull and an accident on a railroad. But, the more time Carla spends with Eamon, the more she longs to see her father again.

The wedding isn’t the highlight of Off the Map. The focus is on the sexy “fling” and growing relationship between Carla and Eamon, that begins to alarm Carla with its intensity. But, Carla doesn’t know how to be in a relationship. And, she’s afraid she won’t be able to handle one unless she deals with the man and relationship she left behind, the one with her father, Biggie.

Off the Map has so much to offer. Of course, for me, there’s Ireland. But, there’s love and friendship and thoughtful advice about both. I loved Carla, Eamon, and Biggie, and rooted for all of them. There were a few tears, but Biggie prepared everyone for that. “Here for a good time, not for a long time.”

DNF @ 40% - I really wanted to like this one, but I’m thinking that this author just isn’t for me. I gave FLOAT PLAN 3 stars for being cute but nothing to write home about, and I ended up DNFing THE SUITE SPOT as I just really disliked rachel’s character a lot. I was hoping that I’d fall more in love with this story as it includes keane’s brother eamon who was a spot of joy in FLOAT PLAN! however, while the romance was cheesy cute, I couldn’t get into the storyline at all. after skipping many paragraphs and just going straight for the hallmark-style dialogue, I knew I finally had to put this down. these are just my thoughts & I think so many people will love this one!!!

Trish Doller has done it again! I just love this series (that are actually stand alone books with visits from past characters) and her gift of writing rom coms with surprising depth. I love the mix of romance, comedy, drama, and grief, that combine for a delightful story with great characters. Romance intertwined with deeper issues has fast become my favorite genre and Trish Doller is an auto-read author for me now. Carla and Eamon make questionable choices when headed to a wedding, but are completely entertaining, have great chemistry together (love the spice factor) and had me laughing and crying through their escapades. Carla and her relationship with her father Biggie was a great addition to the story but It wrapped up a little to quickly for me, I could have read more of this story and would love to see Carla and Eamon pop up in another book! Thank you for the opportunity to read Off the Map!

Quick, steamy read that was also deeply emotional! I loved the adventures in Ireland that Carla and Eamon got up to, and what came after felt true and emotional. Getting to see the happy relationships from characters in the previous books in this series was a nice bonus.

As always, I loved this read from Trish Doller. Off The Map is a sweet, Insta-love story that, like Float Plan and The Suite Spot, have themes of grief and learning how to move forward.

Carla and Eamon's love story was maybe a bit far-fetched, but it was fun to read, and I loved the mishaps along the way. The road trip vibes were incredible, and the protagonists meet an interesting cast of characters along the way.

Despite my high praise, this is actually my least favorite of Doller's novels, but it had steep competition!

Go pick this up!

Thank you St. Martin’s Griffith for my copy of Off the Map. All thoughts are my own!

One of my favorite author discoveries of the past couple years has been Trish Doller. Her books are gentle and heart wrenching, while providing a wonderful escape to new places. I really enjoyed visiting Ireland through this book and while I didn’t love this book as much as I loved others in the series, the ending really solidified for me how well this author addresses grief.

I’m not always looking to read about grief when I pick up a Romance, but the genre is about human connection. The things that happen to us in our everyday lives completely impacts our relationships and how we interact with others. This book is heavy at points, but it is also warm and sexy and fun.

Synopsis:

“Carla Black’s life motto is “here for a good time, not for a long time.” She’s been traveling the world on her own in her vintage Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade, stopping only long enough to replenish her adventure fund. She doesn’t do love and she doesn’t ever go home.

Eamon Sullivan is a modern-day cartographer who creates digital maps. His work helps people find their way, but he’s the one who’s lost his sense of direction. He’s unhappy at work, recently dumped, and his one big dream is stalled out—literally.

Fate throws them together when Carla arrives in Dublin for her best friend’s wedding and Eamon is tasked with picking her up from the airport. But what should be a simple drive across Ireland quickly becomes complicated with chemistry-filled detours, unexpected feelings, and a chance at love - if only they choose it.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

How it Surprised Me—After reading Trish Doller’s other two books in this series, I didn’t think she’d be able to surprise me. But this book certainly did! It was spicier than the other two books and I thought the characters were a bit more complicated. The book just started, which is very satisfying as a reader to pull you in right away.

The Setting—Ireland is a bucket list destination for me! I went briefly when I was on my semester abroad and I loved how the lush descriptions brought the countryside to life.

The Relationships—I have a soft spot for the characters from Float Plan, Anna and Keane, so I loved seeing them interact with Carla and Eamon. I loved Anna and Carla’s friendship, especially shown toward the end of the novel.

What Didn’t Work:

Pacing—Everything felt so fast in the beginning that I almost couldn’t imagine what the major conflicts would be. Something just didn’t work for me, and maybe it’s because I haven’t read a lot of “vacation fling” books that feature that trope!

The Ending—I needed more resolution for Eamon and Carla. I think with how this book ends in a tragic way, it really would have benefitted from an epilogue.

Lack of Eamon’s POV—Carla and Eamon both had SO much going on that it felt like the first 60% of the novel was equally split among them. But the last 35% was all about Carla and then Eamon swooped in at the end. I think I would have liked his POV or less about his issues? I don’t know how to articulate this.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1.5/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5

Content Warnings:

Dementia, death of a parent, abandonment, terminal illness

Thank you SMP and NetGalley for the advance copy.

**3.5 stars**

I’m at odds over my rating for Off The Map by Trish Doller. I liked it….but it felt choppy? Or it lacked continuity? Something felt off. However I loved both Eamon and Carla.

Here’s what you should know:
• It’s a cross between romance and women’s fiction.
• It’s lust at first sight.
• Eamon and Carla just click instantly.
• it’s adventurous and makes me want to visit Ireland.
• Romance troupe - forced proximity
• The sangria drinking bull may have been my favorite scene
• Eamon is the steamiest of all Doller’s male characters in this series. Who would have thought?
• Tissues are required.

Recommendation: it’s the perfect read for March and spring.

Get ready to get bit by the travel bug while reading Trish Doller’s newest novel Off the Map, which comes out on March 7th. Centered around an adventurous main character and a love interest looking for a change in his life, readers will not really learn that it’s about the journey and not the destination.

At first, I thought this book would be just a fun adventure romcom with a few steamy scenes, but this book turned out to be so much more.

While Carla and Eamon are an adorable couple that have an insta-love relationship, this book is more about Carla and how her lifestyle and upbringing make her who she is and what she wants her future to look like. And despite the insta-love factor, Carla and Eamon do go on a journey in discovering more about themselves through their love for one another.

Aside from the romantic love, Carla’s love of travel and her relationship with her father, Biggie, also play a big part in this novel and are so heartwarming to read about. Doller highlighting not just romantic love, but also familial and self-love just adds an extra layer of depth to the plot. Plus seeing cameos of Anna and Keane (from her first book Float Plan) was super fun to see!

This book will not only serve as a fun romance read, but will also remind you that life is what you make of it and that connections and memories can be found anywhere in the world.

*I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 Stars

Carla Black has been backpacking around the world and loving every moment of her. She is living life on her terms, barely making any pit stops. When her best friend decides to get married in Ireland, this is one stop she knows she has to make. Of course, she is going to take some time to explore.

Eamon Sullivan is tasked to pick up Carla from the airport and ensure she makes it to the venue in time. He is trying to figure out his goals and desires for life. He needs to step out from his family’s shadow and figure this independence thing out. When he meets Carla, who appears free and independent, it triggers something in him.

The two decide to take the very scenic route to Dublin. They immediately have chemistry, so why not? The insta-everything can work really well in a situation like this or not. In this case, it leads me to be on the fence. I love me a good sexy time book, but they went into right away. I didn’t have time to process if it was the right time yet. While I did like the smexy chemistry between Carla and Eamon, it just took over the storyline.

The author doesn’t delve into Eamon and Carly’s deeper issues enough for me. Her father is suffering from dementia back home. Dementia is such a heavy topic, and while it is addressed, there are layers of emotions that the reader could have explored through Carly’s lens. Then Eamon relationship with his family and his own self-doubt. They discussed it, but it was back to sexy time.

If fans are worried about this being the third in the series, don’t fret. The characters spend so much time alone viewing the land that you don’t worry too much about the other characters. They come in way later, which also takes away from the storyline. I like when a book reads as a stand-alone, but seeing glimpses of past characters help with the book if you ask me. Also, the characters just seem to want to explore the country together as soon as they meet, not considering their friends or family, which just seemed odd initially. They weren’t considerate at all.

The book still has the cute, funny, and authentic vibe that comes from this author. I have enjoyed the other books in the series a lot and looked forward to this one. It could have ended on a stronger note, but I still suggest it for a quick weekend read.

~ Samantha

I’d say the great part of this book was that it was definitely a quick read. This book takes place in Ireland which had so much promise! I loved the scenes where the location was described.

But, right away there is insta-love/lust trope. I have to say I’m not a big fan of that trope especially when it’s happens right away. I was honestly kinda surprised about the wide open door with in the first part of the book. I don’t remember that in the first two. I’m not against it but I don’t know, I prefer a little relationship building. This part kinda threw me off and was hard to recover.

If you want to try this author I looooooooved float plan! Suite Spot was also good. They have sweet and vulnerable characters that I still think about!

One of the best parts of this book is the demonstration of multiple types of love: friendships, family (chosen and given), romantic love, and self-love. The main characters and supporting cast are realistic and have faults. The banter is amazing. The depiction of a family member suffering with loosing their memories is also very well handled.

Although the book suffers from an Insta-lovey scenario between the main characters, they both have struggles that they overcome and grow as people. The adventures “off the map” added some weird scenarios but overall this book was a very fun read!

I have not read any other books in their series or by this author. This can be read as a standalone. I am eager to read other books by this author because I was so impressed by this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Float Plan was one of my first ARC’s so novels my Trish Doller have a special place in my heart. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I have read from this author. They are usually heavier but also light and just the perfect balance. I also really like how each one of her novels is totally stand alone, but also connects some of the characters from previous books in little ways. I really enjoyed this book and will continue to be a fan!!!

I loved the first two books in the Beck Sisters series and was excited to receive this ARC! (Thank you NetGalley!)

I was hesitant at the start of the book, but I ended up loving it just as much as the previous two. All of the characters were so likeable and the story was heartwarming. I, especially, loved Carla's dad and their relationship! The ending wrapped up a little too quickly for me. I wanted a little more time with the characters.

I recommend all three books in this series! You don't need to read them in order, but I'm glad I did!

Off the Map by Trish Dollar is another fantastic read from this author. This story focuses on Carla and Eamon as they travel around Ireland. I love how the author always incorporates characters from other stories. This is book three in the series but can be read as a complete standalone. While this book has more steam then the others, the relationship between Carla and her dad Biggie was the standout in this book for me. I love this author and look forward to many more!

This was my first time reading a book by Trish Doller, but it won’t be the last. This fun and emotionally satisfying contemporary romantic comedy made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with both protagonists. I found the characters realistic and their emotional journeys relatable and compelling. Although they fell in love very quickly, it was believable given how much time they spent together sharing intense adventures and intimate conversations. I thought this book was just about perfect and I highly recommend it for fans of sweet and steamy contemporary romance.

This novel deals with some difficult subjects (child abandonment, dementia, death of a parent) and has some tearjerker moments, but it emphasizes honesty, trust, and personal agency. Note that the book includes frequent swearing and explicit sex scenes, as well as drug and alcohol use.

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley, which I volunteered to review.

Trish Doller never disappoints. Let’s start there.

I’ve read every Trish Doller book and was SO excited when I got a preview of this one before the pub date. As always, Doller’s stories center around a romance. In this case, Carla and Eamon as they travel around Ireland. What I loved most about this specific story though, was Carla’s relationship with her dad, Biggie and how she had to learn when to run and when to return home.

As a bonus, seeing characters from her other stories return and make appearances in different books is an added bonus to readers who are familiar with her work.

While the characterization and building of relationships plays a huge role in this book, what I really loved (especially as someone who doesn’t travel much herself) we’re the setting descriptions and how we hopped right along with Eamon and Carla, and even Carla and Biggie, as they took their adventures and side routes to get where they truly belong.

I could rave forever, but the bottom line is: read this book!

I enjoyed this book and it was my first by Trish Doller. However for my it was too steamy which I’d lowering the rating for me. I’m sure this book would be enjoyed by others.