Arc Review: Sideswiped (Off the Map #2) by Lia Riley

Sideswiped (Off the Map #2) by Lia Riley

Published by: Grand Central/Forever

Published on: October 7th 2014

My Rating: 5 out of 5

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Read my Upside Down (Off the Map #1) by Lia Riley  review here

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Synopsis

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 . .

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Review:

I feel very blessed to have read this book. Bran and Talia are a tantalisingly perfect couple who face very real hurdles in their 22 to 24 year old lives that isn't normally covered in NA books of late. Firstly, if you haven't read Upside Down then I suggest you pick up a copy pronto.

The story carries on right after the first, with very little left between books. Talia moves on from her life in Santa Cruz. She has a few ideas of what she wants to do now that she's been left without a family home base and Australia plus living with Bran for the next four months is a natural choice. She loves Bran, the only guy, or person in general, who really gets her.

Bran has his own demons. He loves Talia and wants her with him for all time. But he won't do a long distance relationship and early on after her arrival back to Tasmania he realises he's got an uphill battle to keep her by his side. But Bran has his own ambitions in his periphery. Ambitions he's always dreamed of and is passionate about.

Talia and Bran are both realists. They want to live life with meaning. They want to serve a higher purpose. Talia still dreams of joining the Peace Corps and Bran still dreams of travelling to Antarctica for the Sea Alliance. They know their places will be rewarding to them but they also know that time is precious. And for the four months they have together, well, they have to make the most of it.

After living together for a short while Talia and Bran learn so much about each other. They both love the other fiercely, there's a give and take which they adapt to, there's an understanding. But those demons that lurk could be the big catalyst to their own downfall.

So, what to do. Do they succumb to shelving their dreams just to be together or do they compromise? Do the long distance relationship thing while they fulfill their dreams? This book takes you on their journey with surprising gender role reversals. Talia, who suffers from OCD, grows so much from the first book. She knows that her home is with Bran. When they are together she is calm. He helps her through her compulsive ways and puts otherwise complicated actions into perspective.

Who eventually becomes the giver and who becomes the taker of their relationship? The answer may surprise you.

A fantastic sequel in a compelling series, Sideswiped delves deeper into Bran and Talia's already complicated lives with heart-wrenching consequences :)

-CBx

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You can reach Lia Riley here:

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