Book Review : Upside Down (Off the Map, #1) by Lia Riley

Upside Down
Off the Map, #1
by Lia Riley

Release Date:
August 5th, 2014

Publisher:
Forever

Source:
Publisher via NetGalley

Synopsis:

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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Off the Map Series on Goodreads

Review:

I have to be honest and admit that the cover sold me this book from the very beginning. Even before I read the blurb my eyes were all over that cover! Seriously!? Have you seen the beautiful covers for this series? Intense, passionate, tender and romantic. A perfect reflection of Talia and Bran's love story. I was shocked to find out that this was Lia Riley's debut novel. Wow!!! Absolutely AMAZING!!!! My bookworm radar is ready! I will be adding to my TBR list anything she writes! I loved every single minute of my reading escape, and I can't wait to follow the rest of Talia and Bran's beautiful journey together.

Australia. Two strangers. One unforgettable journey. For Talia it's time for a new beginning. When she takes a step towards turning the page on her heartbreaking past, she never expected to meet Bran Lockhart. From the moment their paths cross, a hurricane of feelings comes crashing down on them. Bran is irresistibly addictive, but his behavior turns Talia's world upside down. Every time she takes a step forwards with him, he takes a step back. Will Talia and Bran be able to overcome the obstacles of their pasts and move forward together? 

Upside Down, by Lia Riley, was an emotional roller coaster ride! I was engaged from the first chapter and it never stopped until the very last page. This beautifully written story had everything that I look for in a NA book. The most important thing for me when I read a book is my connection to the main characters. Talia and Bran's chemistry was powerful! I felt everything that they were feeling. I had butterflies in my stomach when they first met, my heart was beating fast when they shared that sensual first kiss, my heart broke for them when they put up those walls not to get hurt, and I was at the edge of my seat to see if they would take a chance on love and move forward together to a future they both deserved. It was easy to relate to them. I think that's why I connected so easily with them. I have seen friends struggle with the same problems that both these characters had. I don't want to give out too much of the story because you totally have to feel this journey.

After reading Upside Down, I feel like I really know Talia and Bran. I would absolutely hang out with them. I also loved Marti, which is Talia's friend, she's super funny. I LOL at some specific scenes because Marti is from Montreal. I live in Montreal so I had a huge smile on my face while reading some scenes. Her sense of humor is contagious and it reminds me of some of my friends, and yes, I have used the same swear word that she does ... LOL!!! 

I am so happy that there is another two installments in this series. Talia and Bran's amazing love story is far from over! The bad news is I have to wait until October to read Sideswiped :( The good news is that by the end of the year the final installment, which is Inside Out, will be out and I can indulge in another amazing reading escape :)

Rating:

I give, Upside Down, by Lia Riley 5 tender, passionate, heart-melting, emotional, marvellous stars!

About the Author

Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult Romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments. 

A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. 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. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound pretty sweet. 

She and her family live in Northern California. 

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