Off the Map

In the Shadow #1

by J.L. Crosswhite, Jennifer Crosswhite

She thought it was a road trip adventure…
…He figured it was the perfect opportunity.
But her stalker was on the road to retaliation, and she was his destination.

Relocation specialist Allie Ellis’s neatly ordered life is turned upside down by the reappearance of her old teen crush. And somehow he’s been recruited to join her family’s planned road trip.

Detective Steve Collins never got over the girl he let get away in high school. Now they are thrown together by mutual friends.

And he’s not about to let her go without a second chance.

But a thwarted felon has mapped out plans of his own, marking more than caution signs around each bend.

Have Allie and Collins found each other only to discover another detour? A fatal one, over a cliff?

Off the Map, the first book in the new spin-off series In the Shadow, is Christian romantic suspense at its best. If you loved the Hometown Heroes series, you will love this page-turner because this trip packs excitement to the final page.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Kirsty Hendry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Since they were children, Allie Ellis and her siblings have dreamed of a road trip adventure together. Just when their dream is about to become a reality, their plans look as though they will fall through when some of the siblings can no longer make it.

Allie's childhood crush Detective Steve Collins finds himself joining the road trip and saving the day. They are soon ready to hit the road on the trip of a lifetime.

But little does she know, Allie has become the object of a dangerous stalkers obsession and he has plans of his own.

Will this trip be a second chance for Allie and Collins? Or will their trip take a fatal detour.

What I liked about this book

The characters are likeable and relatable. I especially enjoyed the development of Allie's relationship with her siblings over the course of their trip.
J.L. Crosswhite provides clear and vivid depictions of the places that the group visit.
When I thought the story had come to an end I was surprised by a twist I didn't see coming.
The romance between Allie and Collins is sweet.

What I didn't like

This is the first book in the In the Shadow series but some of the main characters originally appear in the Hometown Heroes series. The previous books are heavily referenced throughout Off the Map. As I haven't read this series I felt as though I had missed something.

Off the Map is a gripping suspense romance. This does work as a standalone but I think that the reader would have a better experience if they have read the previous series.

Find this review and others on my blog

[Rosevine Cottage Girls · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely thrilling book, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. A beautifully written novel of suspense, tension, and romance.
An old High School crush. A reunion. An attack. And a beautifully dangerous road trip. Whatever could happen?

Received a free copy for my honest review.

[Trudy Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Collins and Allie's story!! This is a page turner, for sure!! Allie interrupts an assault on a fellow realtor, so gets in the crosshairs of him wanting revenge. Collins joins what was to be a family camping trip, and Kim is roped in, too. When the adventure starts, little do any of them know that there's going to be even more than they planned for!!! Collins finds out he didn't know quite as much about Allie as he thought he did, and some old insecurities come out. Will he and Allie be able to have a relationship? Will they even survive the camping trip? There were unexpected twists and turns, and I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next!! Looking forward to the next book!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

They plan the trip by the map - can they stick to it?
A family road trip. The oldest sister plans it and it is amazing. And though one sibling can’t come a friend steps in — good thing because otherwise there be no trip!!! And what a trip it is. Even though they keep running into this guy that seems to be kinda nice/creepy. And the guy with the truck - he’s a cop with great instincts. THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO TAKE A ROAD TRIP — AND YOU WON’T WANT TO STOP READING ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT CREEPY GUY!!I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Shonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! The characters create a feeling of belonging and camaraderie with the reader. An exciting adventure with beautiful scenery and relationships that comes crashing down with fear and deception. So many twist and turns that keep you in suspense. Romance and friendships are formed providing the reader with a hunger for more. I am so excited about reading any books of JL Crosswhite, clean Christian fiction that scoops you up into a high energy story that gives you goosebumps!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. The author brought the book to life with her words, it plays out like a movie in your mind. You can see the beautiful scenery and feel all the emotions. This story is full of twists and turns and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I received a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Brianna Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely thrilling book, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. A beautifully written novel of suspense, tension, and romance.
An old High School crush. A reunion. An attack. And a beautifully dangerous road trip. Whatever could happen?

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Off the Map by JL Crosswhite several storylines mainly featured around Allie and Collins. Growing up Allie had a crush on Collins and he was to be her prom date but someone else asked him first and they missed their chance. Now ten years later they are in the same town and as they shared the same friends, back in the same circles. When the pair reconnect, we can see that the sparks are still hot and smoldering. For years, Allie and her siblings have been planning a great American road trip and finally, the trip is here but what happens when two of Allie's siblings have to pull out. In their place, we have Collins and their friend Kim. Along the way, we read as their relationship starts to form and each couple Scott and Melissa (Allie's sister) and Kim and Matthew (Allie's brother) grow. The second storyline is the suspense and thriller side as there has been a Night stalker copycat attacking woman, he even calls himself Richard Ramirez. It seems now that Allie interrupted his latest attack, he has set his eyes on making her pay -no matter what the cost, which in this book is following them on their road trip across America waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. If you love romantic suspense and Christian mysteries, then Off the Map by JL Crosswhite is the read for you.

[Cilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great blend of suspense and romance and I really enjoyed the relationships developing between the travellers. This is the first book of a new series, but it does include characters from the earlier Hometown Heroes series, however you don't need to have read that series before this one (I do highly recommend that series so if you enjoy this book, I suggest you read the others). Well written plot, likeable characters (well except for the stalker!), the Christian elements were presented well, as normal part of life not just a token mention, and I really enjoyed the description of all the places they visited on their road trip. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Marie Pinkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The characters appeared in a previous series which I hadn't read (and now I must), but even as a standalone it was great. There was great suspense, family, new and old relationships, some romance, and good pacing as this group tours some of the National parks in the Southwest (lots of interesting tidbits about the different locations). A good read, even at over 350 pages it kept my attention all the way through! I'm looking forward to going back to the old series as well as continuing with this new one.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off the Map is a very well-written romance. Getting the point of view from several characters broadened the story. The main characters are fleshed out and both likable and believable. I loved the introduction to them. Allie is nervous and has a little problem with her heel and the tablecloth and an elderly lady. Collins shows himself to be caring and thoughtful. The villain in this story is chilling! The plot has some twists and turns, so hang on as tightly as Allie did on those twisty mountain roads.
The idea of an adult sibling road trip is very appealing. I enjoyed reading about the trip as my family has been to many of the same places.
I highly recommend the book as well as the itinerary of the trip! I definitely want to read more in this series and other works by J. L. Crosswhite.
I received a complimentary copy. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this excellent book.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Maybe childhood dreams were never meant to see the light of day.”

This book is definitely for people who love road-trip narratives and long build up. Now, in certain cases that’s absolutely been me. I enjoy big descriptions and longer narratives but I think what kept me liking this book and not wholly loving it is that maybe I’m just not the audience it was written for. Although I’m a Christian and have always wanted to find more Christian books to read and enjoy, this particular book focuses very much on the road trip aspects, a lot of which were completely lost on me. I feel like if you’ve been to many of the places in the book before, or traveled and camped a lot, the book might make more sense to your imagination than it did to mine. The author is great at detailing every aspect of the road trip, the sights and where the characters go but the names and details made no impact on me unless I used Google to understand it all. A lot of it came across as telling me what the characters were experiencing and less showing.

The narrative was long as well and it could drag a bit in places. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, as this was all about romance and the characters being on the road trip together, seeing if they could keep these bonds they’d formed in adulthood. I think the bigger issue I ended up having was that for all the time the author spent building up the story and the thriller aspect of this villain who was stalking them, the payoff was very shallow and short. That and the ending was highly bittersweet. This gang spends so much time together trying to forge these tighter bonds of relationship, only for it to crumble at the slightest bumps in the road and then practically disintegrate. If the author was going for a more realistic picture than she achieved it in that aspect but it struck me as strange she would take a realistic approach concerning the friendship and family aspect of the book but a more idealized approach when it came to the romance.

The romance in this book wasn’t terrible, in fact I really enjoyed many of the sweet moments, it just wasn’t realistic. All the men are too perfect and too accommodating. I think the author simply wrote what she wished men were like, not what they actually are like, not that men are terrible but they’re not as this book would have women believe. The actions that Collins takes towards Allie are wonderful, it’s what any woman would want but it’s not reasonable to assume a man would have these thoughts for years and have not already made a move or proposed marriage. If he has had these thoughts, and her towards him for that matter, it makes them both look more cowardly and spineless than it does romantic. I get it the author was going for foiled high school love story reunited but for Collins to have supposedly pined after Allie since high school so much that he was only considering buying a house she would want to eventually move into and yet not made a move yet?? It’s a bit sad that their romance moves so slowly if the feelings were that strong. If they both know so well they want to be together, frankly, what’s taking them so long? That’s the problem with idealized romance. It sounds great for the guy to be so in love he’d do anything and say anything and the woman is his dream girl and she’s successful with a heart of gold, but that’s just not like reality. Great for books and fun to read about but hard to relate to.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to relate to any of the characters really. I think this book suffered being a spin-off of another of the author’s series (Hometown Heroes). Sometimes a new book in a spin-off can stand on it’s own without having to read the prior series to understand character backgrounds and get general information but I don’t think that was the case here. I often felt like I was missing key details about characters’ lives, who they were and things that had happened to them. Even if they were briefly mentioned it wasn’t enough to flesh the character out for this book. Collins and Allie took more of the focus for this book but even with them I felt like I didn’t know them that much. Maybe it had to do with the book being written in the third person. While I think that helped somewhat with having so many character narratives to switch between, it also unfortunately caused them to bleed into each other at times, the voices indistinguishable from one another. Collins was the one I picked up on the best. The women all seemed to be the same. The story I gravitated towards wanting to know more about actually wasn’t the one the book was focused on, Allie and Collins, but Kim and Matthew. Their side romantic development was cuter with its brief glimpses, although the ending wasn’t satisfying I get the author was setting it up for a continuation.

I think the best part about this book was the thriller aspect. While the eventual payoff didn’t come out so well, the buildup of it was excellent. Although I felt there could’ve been more creepy hints like the couple we got here and there, the pieces we did get were really well written and I felt that’s where the author did her best. The idea of someone stalking you on a road trip and being able to manipulate people so well was chilling because it could actually happen. The ones closest to reality are usually the best thriller stories. I only wish that the author had drawn out the final confrontation more and not let it end so abruptly. After building up this villain to be so crafty, to have it end the way it did was a bit disappointing. I get as a Christian author not wanting to be overly violent but there’s a way to be descriptive and show terror without adding violence.

I will add too, the author did a really wonderful job integrating the faith elements into the story in a way that seemed natural. It’s a harder thing to do that not a lot of writers succeed at but she was able to weave faith in seamlessly. How the characters spoke of God and their faith always came across authentically and not forced or like they were trying to preach to the reader. I’d say in that aspect at least they were more realistic and relatable, which honestly is the most important.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I sped through it pretty quickly and ironically it’s one of those books I’m sure would be perfect for a road trip. Easy to get engrossed in and speed away the time wondering what will happen next. I’m sure if you’ve read the other series it’s a great pick up to see what’s become of some of your favorite characters and if you haven’t read the other series, well you might miss out on some details but it’s still enjoyable non-the-less.

– I voluntarily read and reviewed an e-copy of this book I received for free from Aurora Publicity. All thoughts and opinions are my own. –

Review on my blog: Babbling Books Blog

[KKEC Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published: February 20, 2021
Tandem Services Press
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

J.L. Crosswhite is an Amazon bestselling author, a mom to two navigating the young adult years while battling her daughter’s juvenile arthritis, exploring the delights of her son’s autism, and keeping gluten-free. A California native who’s spent significant time in the Midwest, she's thrilled to be back in the Golden State.

“There’s just one condition.”

Allie has reconnected with an old friend from childhood, and she finally thinks they may have a chance at exploring a romantic relationship- yet. Collins surprises Allie with the request to help him find a home to buy, and suddenly the ball is rolling. On their first trip to look at potential houses, they interrupt a crime against another realtor. Luckily for the woman, she isn’t seriously injured. But unlucky for Allie, she is in the attacker's sight. When Allie and her siblings, plus their partners, take off on a road trip- things between Collins and Allie finally start to take shape. But now, their time together may be cut short... because one of them might not survive the trip.

I enjoyed this book. I am a massive fan of road trips, so this was right up my alley. I enjoyed the scene of descriptions and the characters. The plot development was decent, and the character development was substantial.

You could feel the connection and affection these characters all had for one another, which helped emotionally connect me to the story. The imagery used to describe the sights and scenery on the trip was so vibrant, it was easy to visualize.

I enjoyed the little snippets back and forth between the characters; it helped the reader get to know them. I have never read a Christian Romance-Suspense novel before, but I enjoyed the trope. If you are looking for a suspenseful read intermingled with sweet romance and a firm belief- this is a book for you. Each of the main characters has such a strong connection to their faith and are all so open about it; it was very cool to see. And the romance is so genuinely pure; I am talking the stuff that leaves you swooning. My introductions to this genre was a success.

I do wish we got a bit more insight into the “bad guy” throughout this book, though. There are snippets but nothing that dives into the big questions. It would have been interesting to find out more about how he became the way he did or why... what his motivation was. And what his fascination with curly hair was. But overall, he was written to be creepy, and that was more than accomplished.

I think the most intense thing about this book is that something like this could happen. So that is a terrifying little factoid to store in the depths of my already over-active brain. Overall, I enjoyed the book. It had a nice build-up, and the plot moved quickly once things started rolling.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off the Map by JL Crosswhite is a Christian Romantic Suspense novel. It is the first book of the "In the Shadow" series, and as a Book Reviewer, I received a free copy. This is my honest review, which I was under no obligation to write or post anywhere.

Allie, Melissa, and their siblings had been planning to take a road trip together for years, and now was the time. At the last minute some of their siblings backed out, disappointing both women. The two of them and one of their brothers decided to take the trip anyway, and invited three other people: Melissa's boyfriend, Allie's long-time crush from their growing up years, and one of their friend's sisters.

JL Crosswhite created characters the reader could care about, and she did a great job creating tension in their relationships. The trip started off well. However, as the story continued and Ms. Crosswhite shared all the places the characters traveled and stopped to see, the pace seemed to drag a bit. My interest started to wain as each place was mentioned but the details to paint the places in my mind weren't fully developed became more like a list.

However, danger reared its ugly head during the trip and the suspense began to build. Then an unexpected twist made me gasp and kept turning pages. The romances in the story were sweet, and the ending was satisfying.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sweet romance story with a dose of suspense.

I give Off the Map by JL Crosswhite 4 stars.

[Tyler S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really thrilling read. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat in some parts.

Allie runs her own business and is constantly bearing the harships of this on her shoulders, after reconnecting with a friend from her school and childhood she thinks that she might have a chance at a relationship, and so does he. Collin wants to make a good impression on Allie's family and so he volunteers his truck for the road trip they had planned and that's where things start.

When Allie is helping Collin find himself a house in the area but they interupt a crime in progress which doesn't make the attacker very happy, he begins a personal vendetta against Allie and stalks her and her family on their road trip.

I won't go into too much detail from here because really you need to go read the book. It has so much suspension that you could hang a rope from it. I really enjoyed this book with all of its characters and traveling through parts of America that I had never heard of before.

Sometimes I felt like there was too much of what was happening within the group when I wanted to know more about what the "bad guy" was planning and thinking, there could have been more of him but that doesn't spoil the book.

There is a sort of realism to the way this book is written, it is set in the real world and features events that are a possibility which makes this thriller so good.

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating:  4.5 stars

My thoughts about this book:

• How does a man cope with the fact his girlfriend is smarter than him? How do you deal with feelings of inferiority?

• There was lots of suspense,  intrigue, tension and romance.

• My interest was caught right away with this delightful group of characters.

• I felt like I was on a vacation touring the national parks of Arizona and Utah. Crosswhite does an amazing job of describing the scenery, so I felt like I was there. I have been to these areas before and the descriptions were spot on.

• I like how the author seamlessly wove in natural Christian elements. This cast of characters used faith as a natural part of their daily lives.

I was given an advance reader's copy of this book by the author.  My review was voluntary and my comments and opinions were my own.  I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy Christian romantic suspense. I'll be looking forward to reading more books by this author.

[Gretchen Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie and her siblings had an epic road trip planned. Until two of them had to drop out. Suddenly the group dynamics change. Allie is not too sad when her one time crush, Steve Collins, ends up joining the group. As a realtor, she is uncertain about leaving town because of her new client. But when a stalker seems to have followed them, they are all worried.

This is definitely a great start to the new romantic suspense series by JL Crosswhite. But these books do jump off from her Hometown Heroes series. Although the characters take turns being the central focus, I do like the fact that they all make appearances in each of the books.

I think this book could also double as a travel guide. The author definitely had me convinced that she had traveled to all of the locations on a grand trip. She had some great suggestions that I would definitely love to reference someday if I ever to get to explore the Southwest.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start of this new series begins with a bang.
Allie Ellis is a realtor whose quiet life is no longer that when she finds herself interrupting an assault on another realtor. Now this person wants revenge.
Meanwhile, Steve Collins, nowadays a detective, is the same boy that was once in love with Allie.
When a trip is planned by Allie’s sister, an unexpected guest is added to the trip, Steve.
Will Steve get a chance with Allie? What about the danger that surrounds them during the camping trip?
If you are looking for a clean, Christian suspense story, then this one is the one for you.
I have to confess that it took me back to my childhood years and the road trips I took with my family when we visited the mainland.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would not enjoy a road trip with a stalker following me around. That is the problem with the group of friends that take a trip our west. They keep meeting one guy who at first seems a "savior" but soon becomes a stalker who wants to kidnap one particular woman in the group. My heart bounded a lot as I read because I thought the stalker would get away with his prey and she would end up dead like the other women he has taken. But no fear, there is an HEA for this story.

[Sonnetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last. I enjoyed the build up of the story. You will get the see the strengths and weaknesses of each character. They will leave an impression long after you finish. I appreciated how the tough subject was dealt with. I received this book from the publisher and the opinion expressed are entirely my own.

[Glenn Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Off the Map Had Me Pleading Give Love A Chance!!

Above all else, I loved the characters in this book! The inherent tension with people and romance kept the story moving. Nevertheless, watching the interaction of these characters had me trying to shake them through the pages to act right and realize someone really cares about them. I am eager to dive into the next one soon!!

[Deborah Roberts]

Road trip, romance and crime mystery. Loved it!

I was amazed at how well the sights along the road trip came to life. The grandeur and gut clenching views of places like the grand canyon were a great backdrop to the story line. I couldn't wait for a break from real life to get some time to see what was next on the road trip adventures! Highly recommend.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thrilling adventure about a sibling road trip with friends who explore the Grand Canyon and other historic places in the west. Unfortunately, a serial killer decides to come along for the trip!

[Mindy Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

I loved this book and how the author intertwines the characters to have their own stories. I also am inspired by her facts about the national parks. I took notes to take with me when I do the same journey.

[Marion Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was like going home and visiting with family. I have read all of the Hometown Series, and this was just the next step to following the families. I can't wait to read the rest of this series.

[Kathleen Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Road Trip

I felt like I was on the road with Allie, Collin and the gang. The descriptions were pretty amazing. The plot twists kept me guessing and the characters kept me invested. This was an enjoyable read. Looking forward to more from JL Crosswhite.

[sharon reece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow read. There is a lot of time spent on the minute details in the story. Road surface, temperature of meal eaten, including all the details of every single geological experience and very little spent on the actual dilemma. I felt like it’s 80% fillers, 20% scenario and resolution. It also wrapped up quick and slightly anticlimactic. It’s ok.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

Off the Map is a fantastic romantic suspense with fabulous characters and storyline that will keep you glued until the end of the book. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. It was cool to have characters from the other series in this new series.
And I like the fact that this author's books do not end with a proposal - at least not of the main couple in that book - or a wedding.
Not that I don't like it in books, but it is a refreshing change

[Jennifer Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Can't wait for the next in the series!