Isn't It Romantic?

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Off the Map by Trish Doller 
Published by St. Martins Griffin on March 7, 2023
Age/Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

On the road to love, you don't need a GPS...

Carla Black’s life motto is “here for a good time, not for a long time.” She’s been travelling 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.

I am so in love with this book! Here we find best friend Carla in Ireland for Anna and Kean’s wedding. She was set to travel from Dublin to Tralee with Kean’s brother, Eamon, but they decided to take an off-the-map route which ended up being a life changing trip as they explored love, family, hopes, and dreams.

What an incredible adventure! I had such an amazing time road-tripping in Ireland. I liked that Eamon and Carla’s journey took them to lesser known places as we explored the country. It was also a perfect way for these two to get to know each other better. This journey was as physical as it was emotional with Eamon and Carla gaining clarity regarding some major life decisions. I loved these two, and how they pushed each other to make those big life changes. Eamon wanted more freedom, wanting to embrace Carla’s traveling ways, while Carla discovered she wanted to be more rooted. Their desires appeared as polar opposites, but seemed to lead them back to each other.

Though this story was packed with humor and good times, there were some heartbreaking parts too. Carla’s father was slowly losing his battle with dementia. Biggie was her world for so long, and she was struggling with heeding his wishes to stay away as he deteriorated. I swear! Every time Biggie came up in conversation, there were tears because their relationship really was something beautiful. My heart broke, over and over again, but the strength of their bond and their love for each other filled in some of those cracks.

I feel like my adoration for this series grows with each installment, and I am grateful that Doller was able to add another “sister” to the family. My only wish for this book was that it had been longer because I had such a spectacular time with Eamon and Carla and wanted to spend more time with them. Let’s hope there is another sister somewhere to keep this wonderful series going.

*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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Fourteen Days of Valentines by Charlee James 
Published by Tule Publishing on February 7, 2022
Age/Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

She’s looking for closure, but he wants an opening…

For three years, contractor Savannah Chapman has carried on her late fiancé’s tradition of anonymously donating toys and cards to the Caring Heart Kids’ Club during the two weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. But knowing she needs to move forward with her life, she decides this will be her last year playing Cupid—until her identity is discovered by a volunteer. Suddenly he’s convincing her to honor a past contracting bid and tempting her to feel things she knows she shouldn’t.

Adam Kelly, a child psychiatrist and club volunteer, is an expert at helping others while always ignoring his own heart. But when he meets the beautiful and kind-hearted Savannah and learns what drives her, hurts from his own past resurface. He strikes a deal with Savannah: if she’ll complete the club’s much-needed expansion, he’ll take over her secret Valentine duties so she can move forward guilt-free.

Will the club be the glue Savannah and Adam can use to build a new life together, or will the past tear them apart?

I am so happy I found this series because I have greatly enjoyed these adorable romances. This time we met Savannah, a contractor who had stepped in for her late fiancé as the secret Cupid for the Caring Heart Kids’ Club. When volunteer Adam discovered she was the undercover benefactor, he struck a deal to take over the Cupid duties if Savannah’s company would complete the club’s expansion project. What ensued was fun events with the kids as Adam and Hannah grew closer and closer. Their romance was a bit of a slow burn due to Adam’s trust issues from a past betrayal and Hannah’s guilt surrounding her fiancé’s death, but it was so lovely to watch it unfold.

My one and only pet peeve was that the author kept using psychology and psychiatry interchangeable. They are not the same. I let that go though because the romance between Savannah and Adam was precious. I also loved the 14 Days of Valentines, and all the wonderful things they did for those kids from the center. In the last book, it was all about the dates, but here, is was more about the things involving the kids. The planning and the events made me smile, and the kids were pretty cute and charming too.

Overall: A delightful small town romance featuring a couple that was easy to root for. The community element was a plus for me, and I had so much fun during those 14 days of valentines.

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