Into My Arms (Off the Map #3.2) by Lia Riley

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Reviewed by Bel

"You’re here because I want to touch you.”

Beth Jacobs spends her days slogging away in a corporate “fish bowl,” as the hard-working assistant for one of North America’s youngest dot-com billionaires. Aleksander “Z” Zavtra is the definition of dark and dangerous with a sexy Eastern European snarl. He’s also ruthless. Curt. Exacting. An infuriating man she loves to hate. While Beth hardly sees him, it’s as if he’s always watching her . . .

Z doesn’t do romance. But he never expected to be captivated by a whip-smart, fiery assistant who just so happens to share an uncanny resemblance to the beautiful face that haunts his dreams. He craves Beth. He wants to stroke her skin, to feel her heat beneath him. And what Z wants, he gets. And for one weekend, the lines between employer and employee are blurred as Z and Beth give themselves completely to the dark pleasures they’ve both been dreaming about.

Lia Riley’s latest novella from the Off The Map series stands in stark contrast to the rest of the series. Employer, mega-genius and mega-millionaire, Aleksander, “Z”, is a private and broken man who is haunted by a past that he’s reluctant to let go of, let alone talk about. Employee Beth is living frugally while she digs her way out of the mega debt that her awesome parents amassed in her name. Beth is his assistant and Z is so fixated on her that it can feel somewhat stalkerish. Z is not great with people and hides in his office away from everyone, including Beth with whom he communicates via technology than face-to-face. Beth is bewildered by her rarely seen boss. His sudden invitation to spend the weekend with him (thanks to Bran’s goading) is so out of the blue and absurd that she’s actually going to do it. After all, it may finally answer some questions about the mysterious Z. It’s during this weekend that passion ignites, old wounds open and the future becomes more complicated.

This very fast-paced plot rather astonished me and it took some getting used to. Z is remote and rough around the edges, which is why Beth confounded me when she easily gives in to him. It’s still a good read and it’s nice to get to know another one of Talia’s friends. Bran’s brief appearance made me smile, because, Bran. Need I say more? 

Into My Arms rounds out the series nicely. And if you're wanting an eccentric and moody hero (yes, even moodier than Bran!), add this one to your TBR. If you haven't read the Off The Map series, you should get on that soon!

~ Bel

Into My Arms by Lia Riley Launch Day Blitz

Yay! I'm so excited that Into My Arms (Off The Map #3.2) is finally out today! And for the love of all that's holy, this scorching hot cover makes me insane! 

We're giving you two for Tuesday because not only do we have a tempting excerpt from Into Your Arms below, we have special treat - the cover reveal for Lia Riley's next novel With Every Breath ... but you'll have to scroll down to see that beautiful cover!  

INTO MY ARMS by Lia Riley (September 8, 2015; Forever Yours E-Book; Off the Map Series)

SYNOPSIS:

"You're here because I want to touch you."

Beth Jacobs spends her days slogging away in a corporate "fish bowl," as the hard-working assistant for one of North America's youngest dot-com billionaires. Aleksander "Z" Zavtra is the definition of dark and dangerous with a sexy Eastern European snarl. He's also ruthless. Curt. Exacting. An infuriating man she loves to hate. While Beth hardly sees him, it's as if he's always watching her . . .

Z doesn't do romance. But he never expected to be captivated by a whip-smart, fiery assistant who just so happens to share an uncanny resemblance to the beautiful face that haunts his dreams. He craves Beth. He wants to stroke her skin, to feel her heat beneath him. And what Z wants, he gets. And for one weekend, the lines between employer and employee are blurred as Z and Beth give themselves completely to the dark pleasures they've both been dreaming about.

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EXCERPT:

“Kiss me,” I challenge him. He twists around words and dances from truths. But he can’t evade body language.

He gazes at me as if I’m something he’s never seen. “I tell you how I did a terrible thing, and you offer a kiss.”

“There is much you aren’t saying, so maybe we need to streamline the conversation. Your lips touching mine. What could be simpler.”

For once, I have taken him by total surprise.

“Or more destructive,” he says.

“You kiss me with your eyes every time you look at me.”

“Ah.” He goes utterly still then. “Very well, then. Yes. I think I understand.”

“I want you to do it,” I say softly, reaching out my hand. “Please. What can I call you? Aleksander?”

“No, that’s what he used to call me, the bastard who was my father. At boarding school, I was Sander, and that, too, never felt right, not exactly.”

“So what do you prefer?”

“Call me whatever you like. You are the exception to my rule. The exception to all my rules.”

“Why?” My voice is breathless, more than a little unsteady.

“If I knew that, I’d be a wiser man than I am now.” His eyes close and his next breath is long, slow, and shuddering. “If I kiss you, will you hold still?”

Hold still if he actually kisses me? The idea of his full lips slanting on mine, his hard chest pushing insistent against my breasts is enough to make me writhe all on its own. “No.”

His gaze snaps to mine.

“How can I promise such a thing? After all, a kiss isn’t one-sided, at least not a good kiss.”

He stands, wiping his hands on his suit pants, his shirt a little wrinkled.

He walks to the window and looks out at nothing but night, seeing only his own ghost face reflection, and my own behind him. He places a hand on the glass and the heat from his skin heats the pane. When he turns, it remains, a foggy imprint.

I move to the end of the bed, hang my feet off, the robe slipping off one shoulder.

He is there then. I don’t even have time to register movement. He braces his hands on either side of the mattress, on the outside of my thighs, and there is no more oxygen in the room. The flame in his expression has sucked it all out.His lips crush mine as if time has run out. We don’t have the night, or the hours left to the weekend. There is only and ever this moment. No play-acting or showing off. No coy moves. It’s need, pure and raw, urgent and fierce. His lips are cooler than I imagined. A distant place in me registers that thought. Cool expect there is his tongue, easing against mine, and the contrast makes me sigh.

The moments when I realize I exist are infrequent. Flashes of realization that I am alive, and this is an actual life that I am living and for those few precious moments I’m on the outside, looking at my whole world and seeing it not for what it normally feels like, an all-consuming crushing adventure rather than a spider’s web tangling me.

And that’s what this. His lips. My lips. Nothing else is touching. Not hands or bodies. Not even our faces. Only our hungry mouths.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, Lia Riley scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

CONNECT WITH LIA RILEY:

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And now we're delighted to bring you the cover reveal for With Every Breath, the first in Lia Riley's upcoming Wanderlust series! 

WITH EVERY BREATH by Lia Riley (December 29, 2015; Forever Trade Paperback)

BREATHE DEEP . . . AND JUMP IN

At the ends of the earth, Patagonia is a land where ambition trumps reason and the savage summit of La Aguja lures the most determined climbers. It's also the last spot a "play-it-safe girl" like Auden Woods expects to find herself. But she'll lace up her brand-new hiking boots and do whatever it takes to secure a dream job at an adventure magazine . . . even if it kills her. And it just might. When disaster strikes, her only chance at survival comes in the form of the surliest, sexiest mountaineer ever to come out of Scotland.

After a climbing accident cost him his brother, professional mountaineer Rhys MacAskill is at the end of his rope. Redemption is not in his future. That is, until a terrifying storm blows a budding journalist into his tent and it's up to him to make sure they both survive until morning. Despite the demons weighing on him, Rhys can't resist the temptation of the charming American and one wild night just isn't enough.

Auden and Rhys soon learn there are no shortcuts as they navigate their way between life, death, and atonement, and discover something they never expected-love.

PRE-ORDER NOW!

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Carry Me Home by Lia Riley

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Love doesn’t have to be perfect to be true…

Years ago, Tanner Green loved Sunny Letman. She was meant to be his first kiss, first love, first everything. Then their world spun upside-down and out of control.

Free-spirited Sunny doesn’t do commitment. Sure, guys are great for a night or a week, but she always leaves first. That is, until professional skateboarder and town golden boy, Tanner Green, unexpectedly walks back into her life.

Despite their broken history, a fragile and undeniably electric connection still holds them together. Now Tanner has to convince Sunny that even though love isn’t always perfect, it’s worth sticking around for. . .

Now that we have Talia and Bran’s story all settled, it’s time to turn our attention to one of Talia’s best friends, Sunny. From what little we had glimpsed of her before, she comes off as a happy-go-lucky sort of girl who’s easy to get along with and someone Talia looks up to very much. Appearances can be deceiving my friends. Sunny puts up a very successful façade but underneath that is a young woman who is so cynical of love and commitment that she’d rather get involved in random hook-ups than risk having her heart broken.

Then Tanner shows up. Yes, Tanner as in the one-time boyfriend of Talia’s sister Pippa, and Talia’s regretful one-night stand. THAT Tanner. He catches Sunny during one of her random hook-ups. It's almost a stand-off between them. She refuses to be anything other than she is or allow his opinion of her to bring her down. For all she cares, he betrayed Pippa and he hurt Talia badly. Those things are unforgivable. But there’s more. She's purposefully ugly towards him because he's the only one who knows about her crappy childhood. He was witness to one awful incident that drastically changed the nature of their once close friendship. To Tanner, Sunny has always been on his mind and the one he has loved. To Sunny, he’s a reminder of all the painful memories and feelings she wants to repress. The fact that he can see through her BS makes her even more hostile.

When Sunny has to go on an unexpected road trip to see her estranged mother, Tanner offers to drive. She accepts his offer knowing full well that this could change things. It’s during this road trip that the truth come to light about certain events and the nature of his relationship with ex-girlfriend, Pippa. We see that Tanner isn't quite the bad guy we’ve thought him to be. He's suffered a lot and has kept everything to himself. And Sunny, that sweet, misguided girl, has to come clean to herself about what she’s doing with her life. Tanner calls her out several times and each time she tries to fight it until she relents. 

I enjoyed getting to know Sunny and Tanner in this jam-packed novella. Some details that were revealed helped with understanding Talia better, too. This is a sometimes sweet, most of the time messy, and all the time sexually charged story about frenemies turned lovers. Some bits were a bit much, only in the sense that I was thinking “oh girl, what are you doing now?” If you loved what Lia Riley gave you in the other three Off The Map books, you’ll find this one just as good! 

~ Bel

Upside Down Print Release Blog Tour by Lia Riley

Today is an extra beautiful day because Upside Down is now available in print! That's right - you can now own this fantastic book with the amazing cover about two souls, Talia and Bran, finding that epic love Down Under!

To celebrate this very special occasion, Lia Riley stops by to share with us some of her favourite Australian things. We also have a teaser and oh yes, a giveaway! Just think, you can stare at your very own copy of Upside Down on your bookshelf! I plan on having my own copy because I can't pass up this amazingly hot cover ;)

~ Bel

UPSIDE DOWN by Lia Riley (May 12, 2015; Forever Trade Paperback; Off the Map #1)

If you never get lost, you'll never be found…

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying good-bye to the past-and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she'll act like a carefree exchange student, not a girl sinking under the weight of painful memories. Everything is going according to plan until she meets a brooding surfer with hypnotic green eyes and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he moved back home to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He's never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once in a lifetime . . . or if they were meant to live a world apart.

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Excerpt:

“Is it true you have no regrets, not even one?” Hopefully he has no idea how dead serious I am in his response. 

“There’s no point.” His fingers tighten infinitesimally on the wheel. “The past is the past. That’s it.” 

“Like whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?” 

“No, that’s a dumb-ass cliché. I mean there’s no meaning to life, despite what people pretend. Once I figured that out, everything got easier.” 

“Has anyone ever said you are intense?” 

“Since the day I was born.” He checks the rearview mirror. “So I got to ask you something. Maybe I’m presuming but—” 

“If that’s your lead-in, then you’re probably correct.” 

“You don’t fool me.” 

He’s right. No matter how hard I try to hide and pretend away my crazy, Bran sees too much. 

“But you try to fool everyone, don’t you?” He turns and catches me staring. “With the act. You, all breezy, cute as hell, always smiling like we’re at some big-deal party. You know what I think—” 

“No, actually.” Wait, I’m cute? He thinks I’m cute? 

“Not sure what your issue is, but—” 

“I’m fine,” I mutter tightly. Reality wanders back, as unwelcome as a drunk uncle at a family picnic. Let’s face it, no one wants to be around a girl with issues. “Really, I’m all good.” Right, I sound like a five-year-old watching worms die in puddles.

“Whatever you say, Miss OCD.” He glances from the open atlas on my lap to my pursed mouth with a thoughtful look. 

“I…I…” Anxiety locks me in an invisible chokehold while my abdomen spasms. But Bran’s gaze isn’t mocking. There’s an unexpected sweetness there that’s coaxing me from my familiar fortification. “I guess maybe it’s something like that.” My whispered words rise above my head like a toxic balloon.

“Must kinda suck.”

People don’t kid if they think you’re crazy, right? 

“Sucks donkey balls.”

He grins. “An unpleasant flavor.”

Suddenly I can breathe again. “And you’d know how?”

A second crawls past. He keeps his veiled eyes trained on the road. 

“Bran?” Finally, I can’t take it. I need to say something. “You acting nice is unfamiliar, and, frankly, uncomfortable, territory.”

“Is being interested a crime?” He kneads the back of his neck. The deep, massaging rhythm is mesmerizing. His thumb is a little wide. He keeps his nails neatly cut. 

“You’re interested?” I’m off-kilter, like I’ve taken back-to-back rides on the Tilt-A-Whirl at the boardwalk. 

“In your quirks. Let’s hear another one.”

“One more. That’s it. Then we’re done for the day.” I kick off my flip-flops and cross my ankles. “I can’t fall asleep without reciting this long poem, Paul Revere’s Ride.” 

How is this even possible? We’re talking about my most shameful secrets like it’s just another thing. Why isn’t he pointing a judgmental finger at me, crying, Shun her, shun the freak? 

“And you call me kinky? What do your boyfriends say when they sleep over?”

“I repeat the words in my head, not out loud. And I’ve never had a boyfriend.”

“Wait, how is that even possible?” 

“What? The no-boyfriend situation?” The words make me sound like a bigger loser when spoken aloud. There’s a very good reason. Too busy obsessing over my sister’s big love. But I don’t say that. Even in this sharing mood, some words strangle. Still, I’ve hinted at my blackest secret and wasn’t smote down, laughed at, or ridiculed. 

A new song starts that’s all angsty and instrumental—dramatic violins, slow guitar riffs, and measured drumbeats. I don’t want to go dark, not right now, when everything almost glows.

I spy Bran’s iPod up on the dash and reach forward. “We need different music—”

“But we haven’t finished talking about— Wait! Hold up.” His hand darts but I’m quicker. 

“What?” I dangle the iPod out of reach. “Cool guy like you have something to hide?

Maybe a secret Beyoncé playlist or…” I flick on the screen. “Oh to the Em Gee.” 

“Go on.” He heaves an exaggerated sigh. “Don’t hold back.” 

“Justin Bieber?” 

“I watched my nieces yesterday. They have a dance recital to the song next week. I helped them practice their routine.” 

“You? That’s so normal.” And sweet. 

“Yep. I broke it down to the Biebs.” 

“Please, tell me there’s a video.” 

“I’m secure in my manhood, Captain.”

About Lia Riley:

After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, Lia Riley scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

A little Q & A fun with Lia about what her favourite things about Australia are (aside from the Hemsworth brothers)

Must-see location in Australia

Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

Australian food & dessert

Pavlova! It’s a meringue based desert with a crisp crust that’s soft and light inside, usually served with a dab of cream and smothered with fruit.

Uniquely Australian activity

Hemsworth spotting. Joking. No, not really joking.  Someday Liam…someday. (BliblioJunkie Bel kindly requests that if you see Chris, aka The Elder Hemsworth, please tackle him for me. But gently. Thank you.)

An Australian band and/or movie we should check out

Ohhh, good question. I love the classic The Year My Voice Broke and also The Castle.

And finally something extra special about Australia she'd like to share with us.

No one ever remembers Tasmania and they should. It’s gorgeous, the food is outstanding, and the beauty is unparalleled.

Connect With Lia:

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Giveaway:

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Carry Me Home Release Day by Lia Riley

Hey folks! I'm so glad it's Tuesday because a new novella from the Off The Map series (one of my fave new adult series) is out today! Carry Me Home is a brilliant addition to the other three books (Upside Down, Sideswiped and Inside Out). While the previous books take place Down Under, this one is set on home turf in sunny California. 

So please take a moment to read this lovely excerpt and then enter the giveaway for your own ebook copy courtesy of Grand Central Publishing. Good luck!

~ Bel

CARRY ME HOME by Lia Riley (May 5, 2015; Forever Yours Novella; $0.99)

Love doesn't have to be perfect to be true...

Years ago, Tanner Green loved Sunny Letman. She was meant to be his first kiss, first love, firsteverything. Then their world spun upside-down and out of control. Free-spirited Sunny doesn't do commitment. Sure, guys are great for a night or a week, but shealways leaves first. That is, until professional skateboarder and town golden boy, Tanner Green, unexpectedly walks back into her life.

Despite their broken history, a fragile and undeniably electric connection still holds them together. Now Tanner has to convince Sunny that even though love isn't always perfect, it's worth sticking around for. . .

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EXCERPT:

Tanner is in the shower when I let myself inside. There’s a wooden rocking chair in the corner. I walk over, sit and close my eyes. He’s naked, soapy, skin flushed from the hot spray. I could join him. He wants me. The space between my legs throbs to the beat of my heart. What’s set in motion between us isn’t going to stop. 

I rock, straighten my backbone and focus my attentions. Imagine each breath spiraling through the open door, to the sky, leaving the atmosphere. A quiet prayer. Please. Please don’t let me fuck this up. My hands grip the rocking chair sides hard, hands that ache to touch his wet skin.

The water turns off and he’s out, rubbing a towel over his body. 

I’m going for it, can’t help myself.

I tried my best to be my own island. 

Turns out my best isn’t nearly good enough. 

The door opens and he stands, backlit in a tight white t-shirt and  pair of low slung jeans. His mop of hair is wet, slicked back from his striking face.

“Good, you’re back,” he says. “I didn’t like you out there alone.” 

“I was fine, nothing scary outside.” 

He frowns, catching my double meaning. “I decided to sleep in the back of my car.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“I don’t mind.”

Of course he doesn’t. He’d sleep on bare concrete if he thought it would be easier for me. 

“I get it.” He backs toward the door. “Tonight’s been extreme. You want space. I’ll go--”

“Stop.” I’m in the darkest corner, in this rocking chair throne, the Queen of the Shadows. There’s a great mystery at work. How can my heart be chained to this guy and still feel free?

A bead of water drops from his thick hair and falls to his shoulder. Then another. Tiny wet patches appear on his shirt each time one makes impact. The way he watches me, his gaze writes a secret poem on my skin. “Tell me you don’t want me,” he says. “Say you’re not interested and nothing will happen.”

I want to curl in a ball. Instead, I stand up.

 “Sunny,” he whispers, and it’s hard to know if he intends my name as a question or an answer. Funny, the way it sounds like both.

My lids flutter closed of their own volition as he closes the distance. He’s tall enough that when he bends, his face buries into the top of my head. He inhales as if I’m a secret flower. I wish I only ever bloomed for him. A stupid notion. This moment would be perfect if it wasn’t us. If we were other people. 

I hook my fingers into his belt loops and do an uncharacteristic fumble, aim too high and brush his stomach instead. His abdominal muscles flex and there’s my cue to explore. I can’t help but inch under the cotton, trace the thick muscles that make up his defined V-line. My nails gently cut to the top of his jeans. His groan vibrates into my skull. 

He’s slipping,  less careful with every ragged breath. His skin heats under my fingertips. There’s no choice. There’s never been with him. 

I rock into him, hard, and his mouth explodes on mine like a wet, hot grenade. He bites my lower lip and even though I’m scared, I’m not scared of him anymore.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, Lia Riley scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

CONNECT WITH LIA: 

Website     I     Facebook     I     Twitter     I     Goodreads

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Inside Out by Lia Riley Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway

Eeep! Inside Out, the final installment in the Off The Map series is here! If you've followed the adventures of Talia and Bran, you'll know things were left a bit hairy last we read. Now we get to find out if they can overcome their problems.

Read on for the review, excerpt and of course, there's another giveaway. Enjoy!

~ Bel

Lia Riley made New Adult readers fall in love with her breakout debut, Upside Down. Sideswiped, the second of her series, made readers clamor for more. Now, with INSIDE OUT, Lia Riley brings her evocative Off the Map series to a stunning conclusion.

When Talia first moved from California to Australia to study abroad, she never dreamed she'd find the love of her life. Bran understands her like no one ever has before. And despite the numerous challenges they've faced, they've always managed to figure out how to stay together. But this time they'll face their toughest hurdle yet. Is their love strong enough to keep them together?

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Review

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Oh my goodness. These two really put me through the wringer with their ups and downs and in betweens but I still love them. Last we read, Talia was off fulfilling her dream of working for the Peace Corps in Africa which in turn pushed Bran to pursue his dream of working with the North Atlantic Sea Alliance. They didn’t leave things on a very good note as both wanted the same thing but in different ways. Bran was very unwilling to let Talia go and allow themselves the space to experience other things. With time and distance, he comes around and realized that it was indeed a good thing. Talia’s experience turns out to be far less that she imagined. She’s having a rotten time where she’s at and it comes crashing down around her when she contracts a form of malaria, gets very ill and has to be taken to a hospital in South Africa. When she wakes up, Bran is there. He somehow managed to find a way to her.

The reunion is intense and bittersweet. When they arrive back in America, all Talia can focus on is how she failed at being in the Peace Corps. Couple this with her anxiety issues, she descends into depression when she and Bran make it home to stay with her dad and stepmother. She completely shuts down and Bran has no idea how to fix things or reach here. He’s patient in this environment where he’s subject to some hostility from her dad and facing mounting pressure from his own father about his future. But this is Bran and he is stubborn so he’s not about to budge until he can break through to Talia.

What I’ve come to enjoy most about the Off The Map series is how well Riley has written Talia and Bran’s perspectives. They each have a very distinct voice – I can clearly hear Bran’s gruff voice and abrasive personality in my head, as well as Talia’s vulnerability and disappointment.  She hasn’t tried to redeem Bran in the eyes of the reader or make Talia instantly stronger. They are who they are and they’re both a work in progress. They just need to realize the potential within themselves. Once they come out of this temporarily paralyzing haze they’re in a better place to map out their futures. Their physical chemistry is as strong as ever (trust me, chapter 5 is a stunner!!) as is their stubbornness. If they can overcome the obstacles thrown their way so far, they have a bright future ahead for themselves!

But don't just take my word for it, we have a special excerpt below just for you!

~ Bel

Excerpt

Who was I when I first fell in love with Bran?

A person who had courage to stare down an unfeasible situation and say, Sure, I’m up for the challenge.

Who was I when Bran threw himself at me like a wounded animal, all claws, abandonment fear, spit, and fang?

A person who accepted that the moon has two sides, light and dark.

Who am I now?

I feel like a lost soul rocking in the corner, fresh out of ideas.

Bran pushes me through the long line until it’s our turn at the passport desk.

“How long do you plan to stay in the United States?” The customs official glances from Bran’s face to his passport photo and back again.

My stomach squirms like a writhing snake. We’ve avoided any discussion about future plans, focused instead on the short term. I had to accept the reality that I couldn’t return to the Peace Corps, even with the medical separation. I was too sick, too shattered. Our discussions about the logistics of leaving Africa were easier to concentrate on than the looming issue of what we were going to do with each other. I treated the topic like an abandoned lot, filled with weeds and rusting cars, a subject to walk past and pretend to ignore.

Now a stranger is forcing the issue.

“Until this one gets better.” Bran cocks his head in my direction.

The woman scoots forward, peers at me with a faint frown. “May I see proof of a return ticket, sir?”

Bran digs out the photocopy of his itinerary. When we bought the tickets, he had to borrow money from his dad. He hasn’t said much, but I know the fact must eat at him. Add another bitter drop to my guilt bucket—soon it’s going to overflow.

“You’re on a temporary tourist visa.” The customs agent flips the passport to a blank page and stamps with obvious relish. “You have three months, starting now.”

Here we go again.

Visa issues.

Ticking clocks.

People imagine international romance is excitement, hot accents, and adventure. They don’t want to hear about the bureaucratic drudgery that threatens to harden the arteries of even the most passionate hearts.

I thought I was going somewhere.

Nope.

I am an idiot Icarus who flew too close to the sun.

Bran leans forward, his lips hover an inch from my ear, his breath a hot caress on my cool skin. “You okay, Captain?”

“Fine.”

“What are you thinking, thinker?”

“I’m just sitting here, a sitter.”

We roll past an American flag overhanging a framed photo of the president. His smile seems smug, as if to say, You really thought you’d get away?

Yes, sir. I kind of did.

About the author

After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, Lia Riley scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

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Sideswiped (Off The Map #2) by Lia Riley

* * * 3/4

It was only meant to last the summer . . .

Talia Stolfi has seen more than her share of loss in her twenty-one years. But then fate brought her Bran Lockhart, and her dark world was suddenly and spectacularly illuminated. So if being with Bran means leaving her colorless NorCal life for rugged and wild Australia, then that’s what she’ll do. But as much as Talia longs to give herself over completely to a new beginning, the fears of her past are still lurking in the shadows.

Bran Lockhart knows that living without the beautiful girl who stole his heart will be torment, so he’ll take whatever time with her he can. But even though she has packed up her life in California and is back in his arms for the time being, she can’t stay forever. 

And the remaining time they have together is ticking by way too fast. Though fate seems determined to tear them apart, they won’t give up without a fight—because while time may have limits, their love is infinite . . .

After a rather rough but eventually redeeming end in Upside Down, you’d think things would get easier. At least that’s what I was thinking for some reason. I was naively dreaming that Talia and Bran would somehow find a way to be together and that they’d be off in la-la-lovey-dovey land being all sickeningly new –coupley cute.  Not so much. It’s downright romantic to declare your eternal love and devotion to someone, but once in the thick of the relationship when problems arise, how devoted can you be?

Sideswiped follows Talia and Bran enjoying the newness of their relationship as reality begins to set in. Remember that Talia struggles with keeping her OCD in check and Bran has trust issues thanks to a previous girlfriend and his own parental drama. Now living together and being around each other 24/7 really draws the curtains back on their issues. They’re forced to learn to deal with those issues because turning away is not an option.  One of their biggest hurdles is communication. Either one will tend to shut down depending on the circumstance. It’s clear they love each other fiercely and their physical attraction is limitless (plenty of magic time). They just need to work out the kinks.

I had a love/hate thing going on while reading this. I loved all their silly banter and how much they were into each other. What got me upset was Bran. Because of his fear of losing Talia, he’s ready to resort to a short-sighted plan to keep her with him. He’s so consumed with this that he’s willing to give up an opportunity of a lifetime, something he’s been passionate about for some time. Talia knows this and has a hard time handling it. But he’s not the only one with dreams. She has her own and as she starts to find her footing, she begins to realize that may be she could have it all – her dream boy AND her dream calling. She’s willing to try but convincing Bran? That’s another matter entirely.  I admit that my being upset with the characters during this part of the story is simply due to the gift of hindsight on my part and a lack of it on theirs. Bran and Talia are in their early twenties and have so much to experience out in the world that I was concerned about them tying themselves to each other before fully taking flight.

Things work out in the end though not the way either of them envision. But that’s okay. By the time I was done with Sideswiped I felt renewed hope for this couple. They go through quite a bit of hardship that tests their resolve. The effect it has on each of them is interesting. For Bran, the more things feel out of control, the more stubborn and overbearing he gets. It's like he has this lasso around their relationship that tightens by the minute. Talia’s reaction is the opposite. With each new thing thrown her way, she demonstrates a growing confidence in herself and a willingness to step out of her comfort zone. So as Bran falters slightly, Talia is "finding her brave" as my kids like to say. 

I wasn't certain where things were headed while I was reading it, but I ended up liking Sideswiped even more than Upside Down. Bran and Talia had to be forced out of their bubble at some point to face their challenges head on. It's the inevitable part of growing up and I'm anxious to see how they tackle the next phase in their lives!

~ Bel

Upside Down (Off The Map #1) by Lia Riley Blog Tour & Giveaway

*** 1/2

Book #1 in the OFF THE MAP series

New Adult Contemporary Romance

If You Never Get Lost, You’ll Never Be Found

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying good-bye to the past-and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she'll act like a carefree exchange student, not a girl sinking under the weight of painful memories. Everything is going according to plan until she meets a brooding surfer with hypnotic green eyes and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he moved back home to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He's never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once in a lifetime . . . or if they were meant to live a world apart.

This is a story about two people who have been through intense experiences. One has loved intensely and one has been dealt an intense loss. Both of them wear emotional masks, building up walls and adopting personas that they feel are expected of them. For some reason when Talia and Bran meet, they are the only ones who can see past those layers and that’s scary. The vulnerability they bring out in each other is too much to handle. There is a lot of pushing away. But things that are meant to be will find a way to be.

It wasn’t necessarily the romance that grabbed my attention. It was the author’s note at the beginning about mental health, specifically OCD. Talia always needs to be in control and has developed a routine with many things from light switches to car radios. She’s well aware of how her issues can impair her social activities.  Therefore, this journey to Australia which will remove her from her present life is not only her chance to leave behind a very painful past but also an opportunity to reinvent herself into someone who is better or "well". You know people like to joke about having OCD very so often but it’s a serious subject. Fortunately in this case, Talia is functional because she’s had the benefit of counseling and medication to help her. However, there are various triggers that cause her to withdraw and fall back such as her uneasy and dysfunctional relationship with her mother.

Bran’s the commitmentphobe who goes through great lengths to keep up his jerk-like demeanor. Their initial meeting is not spectacular and he doesn't bother to ingratiate himself to her. Despite this, their interaction is just enough to get under each other’s skin. He notices immediately her quirks and calls her on them and that catches her completely off guard. Even those supposedly closest to her had never noticed.  So what is it about THIS guy that gets to her? In turn she calls him on his BS which only prompts him to kick it up a notch. Their flirty moments are fun and made especially entertaining because of Talia’s misunderstanding of the local vernacular that she’s still getting used to.

Upside Down offers plenty to get wrapped in from the beautiful sights of Australia to the growing tension and sometimes discord between Bran and Talia. In the end, it’s about deciding to face their shortcomings and fears to take a risk on falling in love with someone who can see right through them. This is the first in the Off The Map series and I’m looking forward to more.

~ Bel

* * * Excerpt * * *

“Is it true you have no regrets, not even one?” Hopefully he has no idea how dead serious I am in his response.

“There’s no point.” His fingers tighten infinitesimally on the wheel. “The past is the past. That’s it.”

“Like whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?”

“No, that’s a dumb-ass cliché. I mean there’s no meaning to life, despite what people pretend. Once I figured that out, everything got easier.”

“Has anyone ever said you are intense?”

“Since the day I was born.” He checks the rearview mirror. “So I got to ask you something. Maybe I’m presuming but—”

“If that’s your lead-in, then you’re probably correct.”

“You don’t fool me.”

He’s right. No matter how hard I try to hide and pretend away my crazy, Bran sees too much.

“But you try to fool everyone, don’t you?” He turns and catches me staring. “With the act. You, all breezy, cute as hell, always smiling like we’re at some big-deal party. You know what I think—”

“No, actually.” Wait, I’m cute? He thinks I’m cute?

“Not sure what your issue is, but—”

“I’m fine,” I mutter tightly. Reality wanders back, as unwelcome as a drunk uncle at a family picnic. Let’s face it, no one wants to be around a girl with issues. “Really, I’m all good.” Right, I sound like a five-year-old watching worms die in puddles.

* * * Meet The Author * * *

After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, LIA RILEY scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

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* * * Giveaway * * *

And finally, we can't have a blog tour without a giveaway, right? Since Upside Down is set in Australia, Forever Romance has put together this fantastic Australian-themed giveaway! Good luck!

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