Member Reviews
If you like Trish Doller, you will enjoy this one as it is written much the same as Float Plan and The Suite spot. Funny, off the wall, a little outlandish, a little unbelievable, but loveable all the same. It was fun from start to finish, but I didn't find the characters as loveable as I wanted to. They seemed to lack the depth I so desperately wanted in order to feel connected. I didn't feel the urge to binge it like I usually do her books, even though I enjoyed it.
Carla flies to Ireland for her best friend's wedding. The groom's brother meets Carla to drive her to the town where it is. With some extra time they have before the wedding, they end up taking a mini road trip through Ireland.
My favorite storyline was the relationship between Carla and her father. It especially had me hooked the last third of the book. Carla was raised by her single dad. I enjoyed her stories throughout the book of the places they had traveled to and all the memories of them together that she cherished. An emotional storyline for sure.
It took me a while to feel any sort of chemistry between Carla and Eamon because of how fast things moved between them. I mean really fast. I just couldn't connect with them until about the halfway point. That being said, there was one scene in particular between them where they opened up and it was really beautiful and touching.
Another solid book from Trish Doller. I didn't like it as much as the last book, but that's a personal issue (the parental dementia story line hit a bit close to home, and I wasn't prepared for it since there was no content warning or mention in the blurb). If you're looking for a romance with lots of emotions and feels, this definitely delivers.
What a thrilling ride Carla and Eamon take us on!!! A truly amazing journey filled with all kinds of twists and turns, while a bubbling chemistry builds between these two characters.
A brilliantly crafted story that was such a pleasure to read and experience!!! Trish Doller has become one of my favorite authors in a very short time!!
Way beyond a five star read, so Don’t hesitate to grab it up! Highly recommended!
*I revived a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed this! It was quick and spicy, with a ton of emotional depth. There are deeper themes paired with understanding and compassion and love, which takes the whole story to the next level. The plot was great and so was the writing. I thought the pacing was good, and I absolutely blew through this in an afternoon. Highly recommend, and strong end to this series!
I loved this cute, steamy, fun book!!! Float Plan by Trish Doller is one of my favorite books, so I was very excited to read Eamon and Carla's story in Off the Map. This is the third book in the Beck Sisters series, and while I loved it, Float Plan was perfect and it is way too hard to top.
Quick synopsis:
Carla travels to Ireland to be the maid of honor in her best friend Anna's wedding. Right off the bat she meets Eamon, the best man, at a bar and they immediately click. Instead of going straight to the wedding festivities, they decide to embark on an adventurous road trip across the country. Sparks fly, but Carla is set on only having a fling as her dad has Alzheimer's and needs her help back in Florida.
I adored Carla's relationship with her dad. He was so lovable and I think Trish did a really great job of showing the difficult process of accepting a loved one's terminal illness and grieving the relationship. I really enjoyed Eamon and Carla's chemistry and was rooting for them. The only thing that bothered me was that they were supposed to be celebrating their best friends and they just skipped town for a few days. I would have been really annoyed if I were Anna, but bless her heart, she was not. Overall, this was a really enjoyable, spicy read. I could've finished it in one sitting!
Thank-you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley. I read an ARC of this book.
This book gave me all of the emotions! We open to Carla going to Dublin for her friend's wedding. She meets the best man in a pub and that's where the adventure takes off.
Eamon was living his life but dreaming of adventures. Carla was living adventures for most of her life. After a few hours in Carla's presence Eamon decides to accomplish one of his adventure goals.
Carla and Eamon travel throughout Ireland. They got to the wedding in the Nick of time. Things change after the wedding.
(I don't want to spoil anything).
I must say Carla and Eamon had a deep connection from the first time they met.
loved this book!
This was a fun, quick read! I loved The Ireland setting and all the adventures the main characters got into. I liked both main characters individually but I wasn’t totally sold on them together. This was an insta-lust/insta-love story, which didn’t allow any time to build up to their relationship or feel much chemistry. I also found some of the dialogue to be a little cringey. The use of “Jaysus” was excessive, even during the spicy scenes. And I was completely turned off by the sentence, “I’m starting to marinate in this condom.” 🤢
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for en eARC in exchange for an honest review
It’s no secret I’m a sucker for a romance set in Ireland. The minute I see the word “Ireland” in a synopsis, you can be sure my interest is piqued. So, considering I’ve loved the first two books in Trish Doller’s Beck Sisters series, I was already looking forward to the third book and I was doubly excited when I found out Off the Map would be set in Ireland.
Carla is happiest on the road. She started travelling at a young age with her dad, but she’s been flying solo since he was diagnosed with dementia. She wants to see and do as much as possible, so she doesn’t stick around in any place for long and she doesn’t do love. When she arrives in Ireland for her best friend’s wedding, she meets the groom’s brother, Eamon, and they share an instant and undeniable connection. Eamon longs for the kind of adventures Carla has, but he’s let fear and uncertainty hold him back. When their simple wedding road trip turns into an adventure that stretches out several days, both of their lives will be changed forever.
I’m not always a fan of instalove, but I feel like it worked for Carla and Eamon. Maybe it’s because I’ve always dreamed of travelling to a place like Ireland and meeting the love of my life, so Off the Map felt like a bit of fantasy wish fulfilment. Who knows, but it worked for me. Their relationship started out as curiosity and chemistry and turned into a deeper connection, and I enjoyed watching them get to know each other and bond over their similarities and differences.
Off the Map had a great balance of humour, steam, romance, and emotion. I was glad to see familiar characters again, and I really enjoyed both Carla and Eamon’s growth separately and together.
Thank you so much to St Martins Press & Netgalley for this audiobook of Off the Map by Trish Doller!
I love this series. They are always just summery and bright with giving enough emotions to make permanently invested in these characters. Although the romance between Carla and Eamon was a little too fast for me, I loved everything else. I loved the family / found family aspect in this book and was brought to tears towards the end. This one is definitely a spicier than the other two (at least that I remember). Honestly a perfect fling of a book to read when outdoor reading weather is starting.
3+ stars. I read Float Plan and The Suite Spot for the first time in preparation for reading Off the Map. I love the themes of women finding their own way through difficult situations (Anna learning to live with the grief of her late fiance, and Rachel prioritizing the needs of her & her daughter). I think it’s especially challenging to write a series because it’s inevitable that there will be comparison of the books and characters.
Off the Map fell flat for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Eamon and Carla, which made their insta-love seem unrealistic. Unlike the first two books in the series, there was more open-door romance in this book, but it felt like a bandaid trying to hold together an otherwise mediocre story. I’m thankful for friends who warned me about the CWs (parent death on page), but to me this book just seemed all over the place and struggled to hold my attention.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan audio for review copies.
This was my third book by the author and didn't disappoint at all.
Carla is in her mid thirties and living her live more procrastinating than anything. She meets Eamon and they hit it off immediately.
I liked the story quite a lot. It's not only sunshine and green hills like in Ireland but it touches some topics about how to stop procrastinating your life and just go for it. Their interactions are so hilarious at times and nothing is left to imagination when it comes to their chemistry.
Another great addition to my favorite authors with Off the map.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy
This book will be available starting March 7. It was a great book to start a new month of reading. This is the first book I have read by this author. I will definitely be reading more of her books.
The main character and narrator, Carla Black, arrives in Dublin, Ireland to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding. Meeting her when she arrives is the best man and groom’s brother, Eamon Sullivan. Carla and Eamon hit it off immediately after meeting. Carla is a free spirit who works in Florida as a bartender for months at a time until she has saved enough money to travel the world. Eamon is a cartographer, but never has time to use the maps he makes. Carla and Eamon set off exploring parts of Ireland that Eamon has always wanted to see. The author takes us on their adventure seeing the beauty in this country.
Carla and Eamon will make you laugh and bring you to tears. They both re-examine their lives and realize the life they each thought they wanted may not be what they truly want anymore.
This book is very spicy! 🌶️🌶️
The author does not leave anything to your imagination.
There were so many great quotes from this book. I’m only going to include one in my review. You will have to read the book to read the others.
“Being Eamon’s person is the frosting on the delicious cake of my life.”
Thank you to SMP Romance and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and early listening copiesof OFF THE MAP by Trish Doller.
Have you ever read a book and within the first few pages, and you knew immediately that you wanted to recommend it to friends? That's what happened with OFF THE MAP
From the moment I knew that Carla was going to Ireland for her friend's wedding (Anna and Keane, THE FLOAT PLAN), and that she spent her childhood summers off roading and overland camping with her father, I knew I was going to love it.
Other reasons this book hit the spot for me:
- Eamon (Keane's older brother) is basically a cartographer, or at least works in that field (sure it's a fancy sounding tech name, but whatever, maps are involved)
- it's a mini road trip, what was a one hour detour to camp overnight, became a 3 day adventure (including an only one room situation)
- a one night stand to vacation fling to an HFN
Bonuses: LOTR references, competence porn in the way Carla can repair vehicles, a kitten, a tight knit family.
Similar to Doller's first two adult novels, OFF THE MAP is deeper than meets the eye. This novel straddles the line between women's fiction and romance. It's done this really well. There's a good balance of both. As much as it's a romance between Carla and Eamon, it's also a story about dealing with a parent with early onset dementia, running away from problems, being afraid of going after what you really want.
This is definitely a novel I highly recommend for your TBR. While it helps if you've read THE FLOAT PLAN, this novel is a standalone.
*Audiobook* Sarah Naughton returns as the narrator, and does a good job. While in still listening to it, I'm really enjoying her Irish accent for Keane and Eamon.
Content Notes: parent with dementia, recreational drug use (slight, mentioned twice)
I usually prefer more of a build toward a relationship, but in this book, Carla and Eamon started off with a bang. Carla is visiting Ireland for the wedding of her best friend who met Eamon's brother while she was traveling the world. Eamon is the "responsible" brother, charged with picking Carla up and getting her out to his home village where the wedding will take place. However, there's some pretty strong mutual lust going on as soon as they meet and after delaying the trip and spending the night together, they then embark on a detour/road trip to start realizing a few of Eamon's dreams. Carla is an expert at being responsible just long enough to make enough money to take off on another adventure, so she's the perfect person to get Eamon going on this new chapter of his life.
While there was plenty of fun on their adventures, including a four wheel drive crash resulting in a run- in with a sangria drinking bull, there were also some serious undertones as Carla was dealing with her father's early onset Alzheimers while Eamon struggled to balance his responsible nature with his desire to chuck it all and travel.
Overall, the book was a bit more steamy than I would have like, but that suited Carla's "anything goes" approach to life and helped get Eamon out of his rut. The depiction of Carla's father's memory loss and the devastating effect it had seemed authentic. Eamon's character was not as well-developed and I never got a good handle on why he was so passive about his life choices. Still, it was a quick, mostly fun read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
The book started off a little slow, but by the middle of it, I was hooked. While I wish there was a little bit less insta-love and more buildup, I did end up falling for and routing for Carla and Eamon. I also loved the relationship between Carla and Biggie; it was heartbreakingly beautiful. I am so glad I got to read an ARC of this book. I didn't think I would like it as much as I liked Float Plan, but it was just as good! I will hold the characters in my heart for a long time.
I have been a fan of Trish Doller ever since I read the first book of the Beck Sisters series, Float Plan. I was excited to read the third installment of this series because it was set in Ireland. I also was excited to get more of Carla and Eamon as well. If you are looking for a sweet and steamy romance and you have a thing for Irish love interests, this one is for you.
For most of her life, Carla has been travelling- either on her own or with her father. Now, because of her father’s Alzheimer’s, she has been adventuring all over the world alone, not getting attached and not falling in love. Carla does not want a relationship, and she can’t ever stay in one place for too long.
Enter Eamon- Carla’s best friend’s soon-to-be brother-in-law, and a newly single man who is unhappy with his job and his life. He has gotten stuck and has never fulfilled his dreams of traveling.
When Carla travels to Dublin for her best friend’s wedding, Eamon is tasked with picking her up from the airport. What’s meant to be a week’s worth of wedding preparations and activities quickly turns into several detours across Ireland as Carla inspires Eamon to go on his first real adventure.
I am usually not a fan of insta-love, but I was A-okay with Carla and Eamon. Their instant chemistry was fantastic, and it was obvious from the start that their personalities meshed so well together. I loved getting to travel with them across Ireland and it made me want to go on an adventure of my own. The only issue I had with this book is that I wanted it to be longer. I obviously knew that the third-act breakup would come eventually (as they do in all romances) and I was actually okay with it because it made sense in their case (and I knew there would most likely be a happy ever after). However, the end felt abrupt, and I felt that I needed more time with Carla and Eamon. I could have used at least another 30 pages or so. But in conclusion, I still highly recommend this and will read anything that the lovely Trish Doller writes.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Constantly-in-motion Carla Black heads off to Ireland for her friends’ wedding. Stuck-in-one-place Eamon Sullivan, best man and brother of the groom, is supposed to pick up Carla in Dublin and take her straight to his hometown for the wedding. When the two feel an instant attraction and Eamon shares his secret wanderlust with Carla, they decide to take a detour or two first. They head off the map on their adventure, and what is supposed to be strictly a vacation fling goes off course as well.
If you’ve already read Float Plan or The Suite Spot, you’re well aware that Trish Doller isn’t one to shy away from heavy topics. Check content warnings if some things may be difficult or triggering for you. I did cry with this one.
Don’t be worried that this is too heavy, though, Doller offsets the weighty emotions with PLENTY of steam and some laugh-out-loud moments, too. (Hold on for the scenes with the bull, folks.) Plus, it’s fun to catch up with Anna, Keane, Mason, Rachel, Maisie, and Ingrid.
Join Carla and Eamon on their adventure. I think you’ll enjoy it.
I received an advance copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.
I have enjoyed the Beck Sister series so much. I even gave the first two books as a Christmas present to my sister when she went on vacation. I didn’t think we were going to get a third book for Carla, but I couldn’t be happier. And to see Aiden come back, after his appearance in book one is perfection. Carla and Aiden were wonderful secondary characters who finally get their chance to shine. Trish Dollar writes a beautiful scenery in all of her books. First, the Caribbean, than the Great Lakes and now finally Ireland. I’m sad to see this series end but happy that it was done so well. Needless to say, I already told my sister to pre-order this!
Than you to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoy Trish Dollar's books. This one was just a joy to read. And the spice, was fuego. I know that I have imaginings of living a wanderlust lifestyle, minus the camping because I do not rough anything, and this book helped fill that void.
4.5 stars from me and another winner from Trish Dollar. Audio is perfect as well.