Dorien Kelly Off the Map

Off the Map

Dorien Kelly

Harlequin Next, Feb 2006, $5.50

ISBN: 0373880812

In Detroit, even though they were part of the downsizing team and have been local anomalies by loyally staying at the Midwest National Bank for seventeen years, Tessa Wright and her friend and boss Kate are fired by the corporate angel of death Simon Pearson. On top of that Tessa's spouse Jack has given up on her, as she has neglected him while doing the bank's downsizing mission for the past few months; Jack is missing.

Tessa and Kate, who also has male problems, are depressed and need a life make-over to find a modicum of happiness that neither had during the banking era of their lives. They head to Costa Rica for some R&R at a friend's vacation home. In Playa Blanca they meet two squatters who have deeper problems and issues than the Americans; as Tessa and Kate share this abode with these two women, they learn to live.

OFF THE MAP is an intriguing comparative look between the downsized lives of the two Americans against that of the squatters. Each of the four females seem unique with differing personalities so that the audience understands what motivates each one. Comparing the depth of problems is a two edged sword, as perspective is fascinating to observe but also overwhelming, as none of the female foursome is deeply exposed to the reader. Still this is a fine tale that showcases the relativity of tribulations.