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 Britain, 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.

The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton is simply witty and romantic and will warm your heart with a story that is packed with hope and magic. From the very start, the story jumps into action, forcing our protagonists into close proximity whether they like it or not and despite their protests, both of them do want to be closer to the other. 

What is most charming about this story is how both Elodie and Gabriel are afraid to tell the other how they feel as the story jumps back and forth between their two viewpoints, helping the reader to see how each fears the vulnerability of telling the other that they are in love. I love how the relationship develops as the pair of them try to find out why magic is erupting in the small Welsh town and how to stop it. The cast of characters are charming, especially Elodie, Gabriel and even a goat to stir up humorous trouble. The witty dialogue and the pure romance almost outshines the magic but I also love how enthralling the magic is, how it is built and described, in keeping with the other novels in the series.

If you like romance and you like wit, you might just want to take a chance on this witty and romantic story about estranged spouses. Each book in the series is a stand alone but will pair well with the others. If you are looking for a romance with magical adventures, this is just the ticket.

Rating: 5 out of 5 goat encounters

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