Review by Kayleigh
Series Name: Love’s Academic #2
The Geographer’s Map to Romance tore my heart out in the best way possible.
Book Synopsis:
Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magic disasters. Nothing fazes her–except her own personal disaster, that is: Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience a year ago, whom she secretly loves.
Gabriel is also an expert in magic disasters. And nothing fazes him either–except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They’ve been estranged since shortly after their wedding day, but that hasn’t stopped him from stoically pining for her.
When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, threatening catastrophe for the rest of England, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they must come together as a team in the face of perilous conditions like explosions, domesticated goats, and only one bed. But this is easier said than done. After all, there’s no navigational guide for the geography of the heart.
Review:
The Geographer’s Map to Romance is the second in India Holton’s Love’s Academic series, but can easily be read as a standalone (although you should read all of her books because they are fantastic). The Geographer’s Map to Romance is another fabulous entry into India’s fantasy/ historical romance genre that has wit, passion and magic thrown into an imagined magicked Earth. Elodie and Gabriel are both Professors at the same university. And happened to be married: it was a marriage of convenience, on paper, that went terribly wrong from the moment they said their vows. In the year since, they’ve been avoiding each other. Of course, it wouldn’t be an India book if they weren’t thrown together to help save the world.
On paper, Elodie and Gabriel couldn’t be more different: she is like Anne Shirley, all sunshine, optimism, and causes chaos through her well-intentions. Gabriel is taciturn, grumpy, and deeply pining for Elodie. Together they must deal with some powerful and dangerous magic that could destroy everything they love and hold dear if not resolved, a crew of rambunctious tourists haphazardly assisting, a magicked rampaging goat, and a village that is doing everything to get in their way because they like the attention and money that the misfiring magic brings to them.
Through it all, Elodie and Gabriel find themselves being forced to deal with their feelings for each other. There is SO MUCH PINING. Elodie doesn’t think she’s worthy of Gabriel’s love. Gabriel would do anything to ensure she is safe and treasured, but isn’t good at showing it, and together the two of them muddle everything up terribly. I love them so much, and watching them learn to trust in each other’s feelings and show how much they care made my heart grow three sizes. I could spend so many more pages with Elodie and Gabriel. I’d happily read a full series just about their escapades. I hope we do get to see more of these two, because the next book in this series focuses on Gabriel’s sister.
If you love pining, marriage of convenience and only one bed, then you must immediately read The Geographer’s Map to Romance. What are you waiting for?
Many thanks to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
