When Carla’s dad was diagnosed with dementia, he made her promise to keep traveling and seeing the world so that she wouldn’t have to watch him deteriorate. So that’s what Carla has been doing for the last 6 years. Her next stop is Ireland for her best friend’s wedding. This is where she meets the best man, Eamon Sullivan, who is supposed to drive them both out to the other side of the country. But Carla and Eamon get caught up in a whirlwind of romance and detours right away.

Likes:
-The Ireland vacation in a book. Doller sets the scene very well and really makes you feel like you’re traveling along with Carla and Eamon.
-Although I’m not entirely on board with Carla being away from home for SIX YEARS, I did think it was sweet how close she was with her dad.
-THE KITTEN😍
-Anna and Keane! I read Float Plan a couple years ago, not planning to read the rest of this series because I also gave that book 3 stars. But I do have a thing for interconnected stand-alones, and it was fun to see them again.
-Spicy! Even though I do feel like it kind of took away from the romantic build up, I do think I would have been way too burned if this was a closed-door type book.

Dislikes:
-I felt absolutely NOTHING for the romance. Carla and Eamon slept together right away, which is fine, but I feel like it left no room to otherwise build their relationship or connect with them as characters. I do prefer for my romance books to be smutty, but I think jumping right into it hurt what I could have felt for these characters.
-Carla and Eamon were stressing me out being almost late to the WEDDING!!! Like buddy you have the rings in your pocket, but y’all are still gonna take all these fun little detours to explore and bang whenever you can? No thanks, be more responsible please. I realize that exact idea is what Eamon was rebelling against…but still.
-The ending felt pretty rushed. Carla finally comes home after years away, and her dad dies within like a week? Kind of made it feel like a means to an end to get her back traveling with Eamon, like her sick dad was in the way.
-How Eamon kept bringing up his ex to basically talk shit about her. Get over it, my dude.

All in all, this book was a quick and fairly enjoyable read. I loved the Irish setting. I just did not feel attached or emotionally invested in the romance at all.

3⭐️
1.5-2🌶 - lots of open door scenes, but vanilla and fairly vague

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Trish Doller finishes the Beck Sister series with Off the Map, and she continues to make me want to hop in a plane and travel wherever she is writing about.

Off the Map follows the “third” Beck sister - Carla as she travels to Anna (Float Plans) wedding in Ireland. It’s a bit cliche as Carla ends up hooking up with the best man (Keane’s brother Eamon. But there is no denying their chemistry from the get-go.

Off the Map also deals with an aging parent who is sick, so there is some character depth and development along the way as we learn about Carla and her dad (Biggie’s) relationship, and where Carla gets her wanderlust from.

All in all - I think you will get lost in this third installment of The Beck Sisters. It is a fast read filled with great banter, steamy scenes, heartfelt moments with a parent, and some instagram worthy travel scenes.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC - all opinions are my own.

I started this series completely out of order, with Off The Map being my first of the three. And honestly, I’m glad I did. It didn’t have spoilers and it was just what I needed in a book emotionally.

Things I Liked:
📍Eamon and Carla together. They taught each other so many important things, it was beautiful to see unfold.

📍The adventures we were taken on.

📍The laughs we shared throughout each adventure.

📍Being able to see clearly the feelings each character has for the other.

📍The narrator. Sarah Naughton did a fabulous job with this audiobook. 🤌🏻

Things That Weren’t My Favorite:
📍The fact that Carla had been running from herself and life’s realities for six years. For how big her ties to Biggie were, I felt like this timeline didn’t make sense for them.

📍 Through the book I always had this feeling of needing something more. Adding Eamon’s point of view probably would have eased this feeling.

📍 The instalove of it all.

3.75/5 stars

This story made me laugh and it made me cry. The romance is unusual. I skipped the intimate scenes. I enjoyed their travels. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy. My review is voluntary.

DNF at 20%

I really enjoyed the first two books in Trish Doller's Beck Sisters series, but there is just something in the setup to this one where I just feel no tension or stakes in the story. We've already had in the first 20% a first meeting that begins with them kissing and them having sex, which I don't inherently have a problem with. My issue with this version of that idea is twofold - I feel like I don't know these characters at all and therefore don't really care about this relationship and there is already so much telling and not showing in this book. Not even the promise of an Irish setting and a sexy Irish man could compel me to continue with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Uffda.

I was completely charmed by the writing and the storyline in The Suite Spot (which is the only other book I have read in this series) and was excited for more of the same in Off the Map. And, initially it seemed like maybe I was going to get it. While the meet-cute between Carla and Eamon hinted at things to come, I still enjoyed their banter and immediate attraction to each other. What I wanted was...more of that. What I got was...a sex book.

Books that rely heavily on the physical chemistry are a really tough sell for me on the best of days. Books where the characters insist on having one foot out the door the entire time are an even tougher sell. This story had both.

So, while I was initially charmed by Carla and Eamon in exactly the way I was expecting to be, it quickly wore off. I didn't FEEL what I wanted to feel from them, there was no tension or banter or that delicious build-up of emotion. It was sexy and insta - and a little bit chaotic. I suspect that's going to work for a lot of people. Unfortunately, it is not my cuppa and this was a DNF for me at 25%.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review, and I will certainly be back for more of this author's work in the future!

Off the Map is the third book in the Beck Sister series and it was a great addition.

Carla Black is a bartender who works part of the year and the travels the remainder of the year. She is full of wanderlust and that way she is fulfilled by being able to travel to her hearts content. She currently finds herself in Ireland for her best friend's wedding and she is meeting up with the best man in Dublin to make the trek to Tralee where the wedding will take place.

Eamon Sullivan loves travel as well, but makes his living my creating digital maps for travel, not because he gets to travel much himself. He's not entirely happy with where his life is at right now, having just gotten out of a relationship, he's not loving his work like he used to and he's finding that his road trip with Carla, the maid of honor, might be happening right on time.

The chemistry between Carla and Eamon is immediate. When they realize they both like the adventure of travel, Carla talks him into taking some detours on the way to the wedding. These detours could change the trajectory of their lives and they may not even realize it. Will they allow it to happen?

This was an enjoyable adventure with two very likable characters. I enjoyed the trip we got to take across Ireland as well. If you haven't read the first two books in the series, this can be read as a standalone without issue, but it's a great series, so I do recommend reading the whole thing.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

DNF @ 52% - I had zero investment in these characters from the beginning. The fact that they fell into bed so quickly (and so often) left nothing to the imagination or the heart. There was no relationship building whatsoever. It wasn’t even worth reading what Anna and Keane are up to. This series should have ended with The Suite Spot.

This is the third book in this series. I started reading it, then paused to go back and read the first two. I was glad I did! Although I think all three of the books are such that they can be read stand-alone, it was more fun to know the background of the supporting characters.

The other two books were slow-burn… this one was spicy out of the gate but then slowed down a lot. I enjoyed the setting and the adventure. If I had a complaint it would be that all three of the books tend to have a conflict that is wrapped up quickly and easily with little fuss. I didn’t love the way this one was wrapped up - I felt like it minimized something that should have been a bigger deal. In general, though, this was a fun romance that was not too fluffy and I would recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Carla and Eamon are such charming, endearing characters and I love their dynamic. They’re so laid back, easy going and lovable. And just plain cool. I absolutely loved them.

I loved this book from the beginning for the wonderful characters, interesting story, fantastic setting, the fluid writing, and the humor but Trish Doller always brings the emotion and that’s where this book really takes off. The last 30% of the book was absolutely heart wrenching. You get double doses of pain from the Eamon/Carla story and from Carla’s dad. Doller is really good at making you FEEL stuff. The intensely emotional third act adds so much to the layered work she’s laid down here. Everything becomes deeper and more focused like a beautiful painting. She’s definitely going on my list of favorite authors. I highly recommend this book and this series.

I could not put this book down! I was hooked from the first page! My favorite of hers so far!!!!! Beautiful!

I need to be able to rate this higher than five stars. I LOVED this book. It was exceptional, exquisite, the words made me laugh, cry, and everything in between.

First, you're grabbed at the first page, which I always appreciate. I read this in a matter of hours. It's a good thing I had already gotten my exercise in for the day or else I would have missed it. As it is, I missed dinner because I just couldn't close the book long enough to figure out a meal. And I am 100% okay with that.

This is the story of Carla, a season bartender in Ft. Lauderdale who saves her money to travel. Great life plan! Then there's Eamon, a buttoned up but incredibly sexy IT guy with an Irish accent. Yes, please. Anna flies to Ireland to attend her best friend's wedding and Eamon is the Best Man to her Maid of Honor. Hijinks ensue and this book is every single thing that you want it to be.

Lest you think it's all fun and games, there is a run-in with a bull, and Carla's larger than life yet incredibly loving and lovable father is suffering from dementia. Biggie has forbidden her from seeing him through it, he's trying to spare her witnessing his decline. The amount of absolute love between Carla and Biggie is only matched by the love between Biggie and Stella, his late in life wife who is his full time caregiver.

Honestly, I"m crying just writing this review. I wish it took me longer to read this book because it was just beautiful. The settings, the characters, the storyline. Every single thing, chef's kiss.

Off the Map by Trish Doller
I was lucky enough to receive an early eARC from Netgalley and the publisher!

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author and this one was no different ! Carla has wanderlust and shares many fond memories traveling with her father growing up. While traveling in Ireland for her friend Anna’s wedding , she meets Eamon who takes her off the beaten path to see Ireland. I found this one cute and heartwarming. I also loved the parts with Carla and her father.

I really wanted to like this one more.

I’ve read The Float Plan and The Suite Spot and adored them. But this one missed the mark for me.

The Ireland parts were fun. And Eamon was a great character.

“I’ll go anywhere in the world, as long as it’s with you.”

I loved Float Plan so I was super excited to read Off the Map. It did not disappoint! I loved getting to see where Anna and Keane were in the world and meeting Eamon and Clara. I did find part of the story far fetched - why weren’t they hurrying to join the wedding festivities and why did no one seem to care they were days late? But overall I just wanted to join in on the travel the two were doing.

Rating:
4.25 stars

Read if you like:
Travel
Float Plan and The Suite Spot
Father/daughter stories
Open door romance

Thank you St Martins Griffin for a digital ARC and ALC through NetGalley.

Off the Map gave me serious wanderlust since it is set in Ireland and talks a lot about travel and finding your passion. It is the third in the series but I do feel like it could be a standalone as long as you don't mind spoilers from the first book.

While it was a very quick and enjoyable read with the setting, I do feel that there was a bit of a lack of emotion or connection at times especially with the main character and her father. With how much he meant to her, I couldn't understand why she listened to him and stayed away during his health decline.

Trigger warning for dementia and loss of a parent. Open door romance.

3.5/5

Carla is an independent world-traveler. She's been traveling with her dad from an early age but unfortunately her dad has dementia and has insisted that Carla keep exploring. Her current journey brought her to Ireland for her best friend's wedding. She meets up with the groom's best man, Eamon and sets off on a brand new unexpected journey.

I went into this one not realizing it was #3 in a series but I think it works fine as a standalone. Unfortunately it missed the mark for me a bit. I kept waiting to become emotionally invested in the main characters and it never happened. Both seemed pretty selfish and unlikeable. They hooked up within hours of meeting and it just continued to feel like more of a lust-filled romance than love. I do love the cover of the book and the overall concept. I think it would have worked better as a journey for Carla "finding herself" and dealing with her emotional issues than a romance. I loved the genuine relationship of Carla and Biggie.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adore a rom-com that is more about characters falling in love rather than the lead up to them getting together. The main characters were all incredibly developed (not an easy feat in a novella) and I couldn't help by root for them. I didn't pay attention well enough to know this was actually Book #3 but it's strong enough to stand alone. while clearly having offshoots into other storylines. Now I know what other two books I'll be reading soon!

Fun, fast romcom! Carla, newly arrived in Ireland to attend her best friend’s wedding, is being picked up and escorted across the country by none other than the groom’s hot brother, Eamon. To say it was “lust at first sight” is an under statement since these two end up having sex after a few hours and a few beers on the first night. Consider yourself trigger warned! They set off the next day but decide on a few side excursions and this is where the adventure begins. I read Float Plan last summer and LOVED it! In this story, Carla is the best friend of Anna, the bride, from Float Plan, but this can definitely be read as a stand alone. Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Available for purchase on March 7, 2023

series, romance, women-s-fiction, adult, travel, ireland, road-trip, contemporary***

This is the first I've read by the author/series.
The rootless wanderer meets internet cartographer, and the sparks fly. Each is emotionally self-protective but not physically.
Interesting read.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley.