Guest Review: Carrie Goes Off the Map – Phillipa Ashley

Carrie Brownhill lets her best friend talk her into a scenic European road trip as the perfect getaway from a nasty breakup with her fiancé. Unexpectedly along for the ride is the gorgeous and intriguing Matt Landor, MD, who sorely tests Carrie’s determination to give up men altogether. Careening through the English countryside in a VW camper van, these two mismatched but perfectly attuned lonely hearts find themselves in hot pursuit of adventure and in uncharted territory altogether…

Series:
Release Date:  December 1, 2011
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Landmark
Source:  NetGalley
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

Many contemporary romance and chick-lit books read just like a romantic comedy.  Two lonely or scorned people meet, they spend a lot of time together, they argue or some kind of misunderstanding happens and they refuse to speak to one another… only to find their way back to each other, a happily ever after in their very near future, leaving a smile on your face.  Carrie Goes Off the Map gives you just that.  

Carrie is left two weeks before her wedding (after a 10 year relationship!) because her fiancé cheated on her.  Her best friend takes her in and decides she needs something to get her mind off of it, so she arranges a European vacation for the two of them in a vintage VW van.  But when her friend, Rowena, is given a job opportunity, she has to find a stand in for the vacation.  That stand in is her friend, Matt.  Matt has his own problems and needs the distraction as well.  The two of them spend time together, nagging, arguing, and essentially developing hidden feelings for one another.  When their time gets intense, they go their separate ways.  It’s years later, when they run in to each other, that the two finally realize and act on their feelings for one another, a la Pride and Prejudice.

I adored the characters in the book.  The chemistry between Matt and Carrie was awesome.  During their trip, their moments were hilarious yet touching.  You just knew they HAD to end up together.  I also enjoyed Rowena.  She was light-hearted and fun, and clearly has her friend’s best interests at heart. I loved the idea of the road trip.  How much fun would that be?!  Their trip was a big highlight of the story, as it was entertaining and was what brought the characters to each other.

Overall, I enjoyed this sweet romance, and am looking forward to reading more from this very talented author.